FEWER than half the people in Warwickshire are on the organ donor register – but new legislation will soon mean nearly all residents’ names will be on the list.
Currently 56 patients in the county are awaiting transplants, and last year more than 400 people in the UK died waiting.
Of the some 570,000 population of Warwickshire, around 250,000 are on the transplant list.
But the government has announced from May 20 people will automatically be added to the list to donate their organs when they die – unless they opt out.
Those excluded will be people under 18, those who lack the mental capacity to understand the new regulations and people who have lived in England for less than 12 months or are not living here voluntarily.
Director of organ donation and transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant Anthony Clarkson said: “We hope the new law encourages more people to record their donation decision and talk about organ donation with their families.
“It is important for people to know they can do this at any time before or after the law comes into effect, there is no deadline for making your donation decision.
“The majority of people tell us that they support organ donation in principle, yet only around four in ten have actually registered their decision.
“Organ donation is and always will be a precious gift and if more people are inspired to support and agree to donation, then many more lives can be saved.”
The legislation change is called Max and Keira’s Law – after 12-year-old Max Johnson who championed the law change after receiving a heart transplant from young donor Keira Ball.
Max said: “There are so many people who are waiting, just like I was, for the call to say a suitable heart, kidney, lungs or liver has been found. I just hope that this law change can help save more lives.
“When you are waiting for a transplant, every day counts and I hope that everyone who hears about the law change will be reminded to speak to their family, so they know what you want.
“I am proud when people speak about Max and Keira’s Law, they will be reminded to think of Keira, and I hope by remembering her in this way, that she will go on to help save even more lives than she already has.”
Visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk or call 0300 303 2094 to find out more or register your decision.
