House of Commons · Westminster Hall
23 February 2022 · 6 other contributors · 4,458 words
Opened by Anthony Mangnall Con Totnes
Responding minister: Maria Caulfield
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Anthony Mangnall raised concerns about organ donation and transplantation strategy in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
I ask the Minister what plans are in place to continue raising awareness of the organ donor register and if she would consider extending the scheme to include other official forms like signing up to the electoral roll or giving blood. Furthermore, I inquire how the six key points outlined in 'Organ Donation and Transplantation 2030' will be monitored and reviewed.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
I am concerned about the significant increase in potential organ donors while a small percentage of people have opted out. There are 6,157 individuals waiting for an organ transplant in the UK and 474 people died while on the active waiting list between April 2020 and March 2021. Families refusing to support 32% of potential donations due to uncertainty about a patient's wishes is also concerning.
Congratulated the hon. Gentleman on securing the debate, highlighted the importance of public education and additional NHS capacity to address the high number of people on the waiting list.
I emphasised that organ donation should not just be about numbers but also about the quality of lives saved. I raised concerns over the disparity in healthcare infrastructure between regions.
I pointed out that organ donation should not only be about quantity but also quality and the long-term outcomes for recipients. I highlighted the need to improve donor consent rates, particularly among minority ethnic groups.
Commended the hon. Gentleman for securing the debate and supported a UK-wide strategy to ensure no organ is lost due to inefficiencies between regions. In an intervention, Jim Shannon highlighted the need for coordination between regions to prevent organ loss. He mentioned concerns raised in newspapers about some organs being lost during the COVID-19 pandemic but noted a lack of evidential basis.
I emphasised the importance of improving organ donation in the UK to be on par with Spain and other countries. I also mentioned that the transplant benefit score should be flexible enough to accommodate new drugs such as Kaftrio, which can improve patient outcomes.
I thanked Anthony Mangnall for bringing this debate and highlighted that organ donation rates vary widely across different demographics, with a particularly low consent rate among the black community. I also mentioned the challenges faced by individuals in rural areas such as accessing liver transplant units.
Government Response
Maria CaulfieldIt is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Ms McVey. The Government's organ donation strategy aims to increase organ donation and transplantation rates, with over 296 organ donors resulting in 714 organs being transplanted since May 2020. However, there remains a lack of awareness among some communities, particularly Black and Asian communities facing significant shortages and longer wait times. The Government is working with various stakeholders to tackle these disparities by raising awareness and addressing concerns within specific groups. Additionally, efforts are made to facilitate conversations about organ donation in schools and through campaigns such as the Leave Them Certain initiative during Organ Donation Week. The Minister acknowledged the need for practical improvements in living donations logistics and pledged to explore lessons from international comparisons. Overall, while significant progress has been made since the introduction of deemed consent legislation, there is a continued focus on enhancing awareness, support, and logistical efficiency.