Further to meeting with Bishopstoke constituent Andrew Dibsdall to discuss organ donation and how important this has been for him and others, the Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has supported a Bill to introduce an ‘opt-out’ system for organ donation in England.
Commenting, Bishopstoke constituent Andrew Dibsdall said:
“I am delighted that Mims as my local MP has backed this key Bill. Apart from the health and lifestyle benefit to the recipient, an organ transplant greatly reduces the treatment cost of organ failure to the NHS.”
Commenting, Mims said:
“I am delighted to have supported this Bill, particularly after meeting with Andrew over this issue in Parliament last September, when he spoke of his personal experiences with dialysis and transplantation while living in Eastleigh.
“Shortly after I met with Andrew the Prime Minister announced proposals to move to an opt-out system for organ donation, and I am delighted that on Friday the Government supported this cross-party Bill to do exactly that.
“Having had a career in traffic safety before entering parliament, I recognise the number of lives that are tragically lost on our roads, and the heartbreak that families face as a result. Organ donation can save some of those lives, but just as vitally families donating the organs of their loved ones can help to save the lives of countless others.
“I listened intently as my colleague, the MP for North Devon Peter Heaton-Jones, spoke of how the tragic death of a young girl on a local road within his constituency had helped to save the lives of four others, but furthermore, how this had given strength to relatives as they dealt with their loss.
“I understand that this will always be an emotive topic, however, I am passionate that if something has the potential to save lives, as this Bill does, then we should not shy away from our responsibility. I am pleased that, working on a cross-party basis, we have achieved such a significant step forward today as this Bill moves on to its next stage.”
The Bill - introduced as a Private Members Bill with cross-party support - will bring England into line with Wales, which already has an opt-out system for consent - with exemptions for under-18s and adults not able to make informed decisions.
At the moment in England, organs can only be used if explicit approval is given, either by signing the register or if the deceased had told a family member of their desire to donate.
British Heart Foundation research suggests that while 90% of people were in favour of the principle of organ donation, only about 35% had actively given their consent.
According to NHS figures, about 500 people were dying every year due to a lack of suitable donors.