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organ donation
Gordon Banks backs latest calls for automatic organ donation. Ochil & South Perthshire MP Gordon Banks has spoken out this week in support of an ‘opt out' rather than ‘opt in' system of organ donation in the UK. Mr Banks, who carries an organ donor card, said - "8000 people are currently on the transplant waiting list and this figure is growing every year. So it is clear that something needs to be done to alleviate the suffering of those on the list and their families. Too many people are dying needlessly whilst waiting on organs." "Many of us will know the pain and anguish of someone close to us who is waiting for a transplant." "The ‘opt out' system already operates in several other European countries and has boosted the number of organs available for transplant. However an ‘opt out' must be coupled with the recruitment of extra transplant co-ordinators to ensure that all suitable organs are in fact harvested. It is difficult to expect overworked intensive care staff to take on the role themselves. Transplant surgery is vital and should be given specialist attention." "I support new proposals by the Westminster Government which include doubling the number of transplant co-ordinators in the NHS to 200 and employing and training them centrally rather than by individual trusts." - Government proposals also include the introduction of dedicated organ retrieval teams who remain available 24 hours a day to work closely with the critical care teams in hospital.
- The Government taskforce says an extra 1,200 transplants could be done each year, which it says could save the NHS more than £500m over 10 years.
Last year around 2,400 people in the UK benefited from an organ transplant, but more than 1,000 people die every year waiting for a transplant.
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