ORGAN DONATION

Early day motion 849, tabled 13 June 2000 by Nick Palmer (Labour). Signed by 74 members.

That this House congratulates the BMA on the launch of its campaign for a radical review of the organ donation system, which is supported by a wide group of professional and patient groups; welcomes the BMS's report Organ Donation in the 21st Century: Time for a Consolidated Approach, endorsed by organisations including the Patients Association, Royal College of General Practitioners, Transplants in Mind and the National Kidney Federation, as a significant contribution to stimulating an informed public debate; notes that over 5,000 people are on the active national transplant waiting list in the United Kingdom at a time when the gap between the number of organs available and people awaiting a transplant is continuing to increase; believes that a more positive view of organ donation should be encouraged to increase the availability of organs for transplantation; recommends changes to the existing organisational structure and established practice, including the development of a national transplant service, an expanded network of organ donor co-ordination, addressing the shortage of transplant surgeons, and increasing the number of critical care beds; recognises the inability of the current system to meet increasing demands; and calls for the Government to initiate a radical review of the whole system, including a thorough review of the existing legislation.

Signatures by party: Labour 45, Liberal Democrat 17, Labour/Co-operative 6, Conservative 2, Scottish National Party 2, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.