Knock back for organ donor backlog

Monday 01 October 2018

Potentially hundreds more islanders have been added to the backlog of those left off the organ donation register, after the parishes took six months to order new driving licence application forms, Express has learned.

It emerged back in March that thousands of islanders who had opted to donate their organs on the forms had not had their details added to the NHS register from 2015.

Just weeks later, the Minister for Infrastructure ordered that new forms be printed without the organ donation ‘opt-in’ box.

But that order wasn’t acted on immediately.

Pictured: The Hospital set up organ donation sign up areas at their two main entrances over the awareness week, but Jersey's figures still lag behind those of the UK.

Express has now discovered that the old forms have still been in use for a further six months after the backlog was first discovered – and the amended forms were only ordered at the beginning of September. They are yet to arrive.

In the interim, it seems that some Parishes are photocopying the old forms and covering up the organ donation section with what appears to be post-it notes.

Pictured: Some Parishes are using photocopied forms with what appears to be post-it notes covering the organ donation section.

The revelation comes amid criticism of the island’s low organ donor rates – roughly 12%, compared to England’s 37% - from a local doctor whose teenage daughter’s life was saved by a stranger on the register.

Responding to the news, Dr Neil McLachlan characterised the island’s “lethargic” attitude to organ donation as disappointing and insulting. “It shows almost a lack of respect for the whole issue really,” he said of the backlog issue.

Pictured: Dr Neil MacLachlan and his daughter have been campaigning for organ donation since 2006 when Catherine's life was saved by an emergency heart transplant.

The Consultant and Gynaecologist made the point that, according to NHS statistics, driving licence application forms are actually the biggest source of sign-ups to the organ donation register in the UK. 

Dr MacLachlan continued: “I am surprised but mostly very disappointed that the island seems not to be taking this subject seriously. This is something that should be given higher priority. 

“I do find this exhausting and frustrating because it shouldn’t just be one family doing this. This is a government issue. This is a public health issue." 

Dr MacLachlan said that, even though an opt-out system is to be implemented in Jersey, there still needs to be a concerted effort to educate islanders as to the importance of organ donation so that they can take ownership of their registration and have conversations with their families about their choice to be a donor.

"If the States think that going for an opt-out system is all they need do, then they couldn’t be further from the truth. People need to have the information as to why it’s important. What is being done in the States to really push forward that agenda?”

Pictured: Driving licence applications are the biggest source of sign-ups to the organ donation register (NHS)

A spokesperson for the Parishes said that the reason it has taken so long is because the organ donation section of the form wasn’t the only part that needed amending.

They also promised that the three-and-a-half year backlog of thousands of organ donors who signed up on their driving licence forms would eventually be transferred to the NHS register. It remains unclear how and when this will be done, but the spokesperson insisted that the parishes were working hard on a solution. 

It was initially intended that the data of those who had signed up as donors via their driving license application forms would be transferred to the NHS register on a periodic basis.

Pictured: Dr MacLachlan finds the "lethargic" attitude towards organ donation in Jersey "very disappointing".

However, the spokesperson explained, a lack of resources prevented this regular transfer from taking place, meaning that anyone who has signed up as an organ donor using a driving license application form is still yet to be officially registered, but that they are working on a way of transferring all the data in one go.

To sign up as an organ donor now, click here.