Wales organ donation News

The Health Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that he will amend the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill to make it clear that relatives must be involved and must be given the opportunity to object to the presumption that someone was willing to donate their organs after their death.

Deemed consent donation will not go ahead in the absence of any family member. The presence of the family is essential – both as a source of necessary information about the potential donor and in order to ensure that donation does not go ahead in the face of the deceased’s known objection to organ donation. That position will now be reflected on the face of the Bill. I will bring forward an amendment ... which will provide a clear right of objection for family members, where they can confirm that a potential donor would not have wished donation to take place.

Mr Drakeford was introducing the legislation into the Senedd. He said he was responding to the view of the Assembly's Health Committee, which he chaired when it considered the legislation before he became a minister.

• Health
• Mark Drakeford
• Organ donation

The National Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee has said there needs to be more clarification around plans to introduce a system of presumed consent on organ donation in Wales.

It has called for further "clarity and consistency on the question of whether the family would be able to provide information about the wishes of their loved one or whether they would have a veto over donation taking place."

• Health
• Organ donation

The MP for Montgomeryshire, Glyn Davies, has just posted a blog about ITV's organ donation campaign, encouraging people to tell their families if they want to be an organ donor.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

Today we take a look at life for those on the frontline of surgery. Here's our Health Reporter Rob Osborne.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

ITV's 'From the Heart' campaign is running all week to raise awareness of organ donation and the NHS Donor Register.

Our team has been showing support by making the 'hand heart' symbol.

At 9pm tonight, there'll be a special ITV programme to celebrate the campaign - featuring Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie, Pixie Lott, Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

Today sees the culmination of ITV's From The Heart campaign aiming to get more people on the organ transplant register.

Transplant surgeon Mr Argiris Asderakis says it is often a 'misconception' that some people aren't suitable donors due to age or health.

He also said the organs of those who die in intensive care can often still be used.

There are very few absolute contraindications to organ donation. Most patients who die in appropriate circumstances in intensive care can be potential donors - provided they don't have an active tumour or that particular organ hasn't failed. There are some who will have kidney failure at that stage, but they can still donate their liver, for example.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

ITV's 'From the Heart' campaign is running all week to raise awareness of organ donation and the NHS Donor Register.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

Gareth Duke is a Paralympic swimmer, who has three medals from Athens and Beijing, but had to pull out of the London 2012 games because he is still waiting for a kidney transplant.

As part of ITV's campaign to raise awareness of the need for more people to sign up to the organ donor register, he told our Health Reporter Rob Osborne how having dialysis saps his energy, and limits what he can do.

• Health
• From the Heart
• Organ donation

Tonight's programme explores the subject of organ donation in Wales and speaks to the people whose lives have been transformed as a result.

Watch the full programme online here.

• Health
• Wales This Week
• From the Heart

People in north Wales tell ITV News their views on organ donation.

• Health
• North Wales
• From the Heart