‘Organ donation figures moving in right direction’ – Vaughan Gething

Organ Donation and Transplantation Activity Data for 2016-2017 published by NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) shows in Wales:

• the number of donors after brain stem death increasing by four, from 36 in 2015-16 to 40 in 2016-17
• an increase of one in the number of patients residing in Wales receiving cardiac transplants
• an increase of five in the number of patients residing in Wales receiving a live Kidney transplant
• an increase in the overall consent/authorisation rate for organ donation from to 59% in 2015-16 to 64% in 2016-17
• a decrease of 18.5% in patients who died whilst  on the waiting list for their transplant - from 27 in 2015-16 to 22 in 2016-17.

Welcoming the data, Vaughan Gething said:

 “These figures are encouraging, but while there are people dying while on a waiting list for their transplant we must work harder.

“I want to encourage everyone across Wales to talk with their loved ones about their organ donation decision. While we know awareness and understanding is increasing, it’s really important  the Welsh public share their decision with their family.

“It’s good to see the data for Wales is moving in the right direction and the number of people in the UK known to be alive thanks to organ transplants has broken the 50,000 mark. It was also positive to see Organ Donation and Transplantation data for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic being published by NHSBT as a supplementary report.

“I was pleased to hear the recent news that England are considering following our and Scotland’s lead by introducing a soft opt out system of organ and tissue donation.

“We were proud, back in 2015, to be the first country in the UK to do this and are pleased with what we’ve achieved so far. We believe the benefits of a soft opt out organ donation system to those needing a transplant are literally, life changing.”