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[Received by email on 9 March 2018]
Response from the Minister for Health and Social Services to the Panel's request for information regarding how someone's preference for organ donation is managed through the Jersey driving licence application process.
- The Comité have said that the data collected about peoples' preference for organ donation on Jersey driving licences has not been passed on to the NHS organ donation register. Are you or your department aware of this?
Yes my department is aware of this. Of course, I'm disappointed that this is the case.
- What involvement have you or your department had in the proposal to include an option for signing up to the organ donation register on Jersey driving licences?
As the Comite des Connetables has said, the original approach was from representatives of the Love Hearts Appeal (a Jersey charity that promotes organ donation) asking whether applications for driving licences could include an option to register as an organ donor. I know the Health Minister of the time was supportive of the moves by the Comite which were intended to increase the number of potential organ donors.
- What impact do you think this might have had on Jersey's organ donation figures (currently around 14% of people are estimated to be signed up to the register) compared to the UK (currently around 36% are signed up to the register)?
The department does not know the impact, but given the percentages on the register reported by the Jersey Opinions and Lifestyle Survey and NHS BT are broadly similar, the effect of the driving licence applications may not be that marked.
- Can you confirm that residents of the UK have the option of signing up to the organ donation register at the time they apply for driving licences? Are you aware of the percentage of people on the register who have joined by this method?
I understand this is the case. I do not have details of the percentage of people who have signed up this way.
- The Comité des Connétable s' letter indicated that the NHS Blood and Transplant Service will not bear any of the costs associated with supporting Jersey's efforts to increase the number of organ donors. If this is the case, what are the implications for the new opt-out organ donation system?
If the new arrangements are supported by the States, we have stated that there is a budget of £20k to publicise them, including how people can opt in or out if they wish.