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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER 2016
Question
Will the Minister advise what work, if any, has been carried out following the adoption on 24th September 2013 of Part (b) of Organ Donors' Register' (P.89/2013) to review the current policy in respect of organ donations and to bring forward recommendations for improvement? What consideration, if any, has been given to an opt-out system of organ donation for Jersey?
Answer
Since the adoption of Part b) of P89/2013, a number of measures have been taken to increase organ donation on the island and to seek to create a more positive culture around the topic, such that families are aware of the wishes of a loved one to donate their organs. This has included local publicity to support national organ donor awareness events and campaigns and organ donor registration linked to Jersey driving licence applications via the parishes.
Also a new organ donation committee has been set up, chaired by the Hospital Managing Director. These meetings have been particularly successful in raising awareness of the opportunities for organ donation with clinical staff, with early referral where an opportunity for donation arises. The committee has also facilitated close relationships with the NHS Blood and Transplant Special Health Authority.
In terms of the opt-out system of organ donation we continue to follow with great interest developments in Wales with its soft opt-out' system introduced on 1 December 2015. The intention is to review the position once the Welsh scheme has been operating for a year or more. Other jurisdictions are adopting a similar watch and learn' approach – notably England, the jurisdiction through which most organs obtained from Jersey patients, or organs being donated to Jersey patients, are channelled.
Any move to adopt something like the Welsh system, however desirable, would of course have resource implications in terms of, for example, possible public consultation, communications, and law drafting time.