Last updated 19:25, Thursday, 20 November 2008

TRANSPLANT patients and doctors in West Cumbria have been left frustrated by a Government decision on organ donation this week.

The UK will not be switching to an opt-out system, known as ‘presumed consent’, as the result of a report from the Organ Donation Taskforce.

Health secretary Alan Johnson instead announced a £4.5m public awareness campaign to boost donor numbers.

Kidney specialist Mark Boxall, of the Cumberland Infir-mary, in Carlisle, said: “I don’t think it’s the right thing. We should have an opt-out system.

“I want my patients to live for as long as possible with the best quality of life, and that means getting them off dialysis with a kidney transplant.”

Tommy Boag, 46, of Fountains Avenue, Workington, had a kidney transplant 10 years ago.

He said: “The opt-out scheme would be a good thing, but people have got to be educated about it.

“It is not just for kidneys, but for hearts, lungs and bone marrow as well.”

“The Government has got to educate people so they will be able to see what a gift of life transplantation is.”

Anthony Graham, 43, of Derwent Park, Great Broughton, has been waiting for a kidney transplant for six years.

He said: “It’s disappoint-ing as the Government should be trying to get people involved.

“Maybe they should use celebrities in the awareness campaign – they are used for everything else.”

As part of the Government proposals, every NHS Trust in England will appoint an organ donation champion to discuss the issue with families.

A network of organ retrieval teams will be created to ensure timely, high-quality organ removal from viable donors.

Lynda Hamlyn, chief executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “With nearly 16 million people registered on the NHS Organ Donor Register, there is no question about the level of altruism among the general public.

“Nevertheless, there remains an urgent need to address the gap between the number of people waiting for an organ transplant and those receiving one.”

The presumed consent system, which requires individuals who do not wish their organs to be donated to opt out, is already in force in other countries.

The Government hopes that 20 million people in the UK will be registered as organ donors by 2010, and 25 million by 2013.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has indicated that he may still change the law if these targets are not met.

To find out about organ donation, call the NHS organ donor line on 0845 60 60 400, text the word GIVE to 84118 or log on to www.uktrans plant.org.uk.

Registration forms are available at the Times & Star offices in Oxford Street, Workington or online at www.timesandstar.co.uk/donorform