Ulster Unionist MLA Jo-Anne Dobson has hailed 5 February as a ‘special day for Organ Donation in Northern Ireland.’
The Upper Bann MLA who is progressing an Organ Donation Bill at Stormont, backed by the local transplant charities and aimed at saving local lives said:
“This is the fifth anniversary of my son Mark’s life-saving kidney transplant, as well as the first anniversary of the public support from the First and deputy First and Health Ministers for the Soft Opt-Out System which is the aim of my Bill.
“This is a special time each year for Mark, but I want everyone who needs a life-saving transplant to get the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of their New Life. Sadly, for far too many that chance never comes.
“I firmly believe, and am supported in this by the First and deputy First Ministers, that a Soft Opt-Out system is the best solution to save local lives.
“However, exactly one year on since the Health Minister said he would conduct a public survey and now over 3 months after the results were published, he has yet to make his intentions clear.
“Earlier this week Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness once again, in a written Assembly answer to me, pledged their personal support for a Soft Opt-Out system.
“I am calling on them to use their influence on the Health Minister to get him to put the full force of his Department behind the campaign which is backed by 82% of the public who responded to my 16 week consultation.
“Let’s have a good news story from this Executive and work together to do the right thing for those currently waiting and those who may need a life-saving transplant in the future.”
ENDS
Written Answer AQO 5108/11-15 - Organ Donation
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister, following their statement of 5 February 2013, whether their preferred position on the updating of the Organ Donation system remains a move to a soft opt-out system.
Our position remains as conveyed in our statement of 5 February. You will be aware that the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety is now considering the report of the work he commissioned on attitudes towards organ donation, including an opt-out system. We are on the record as personally supporting the soft opt-out proposal and we await progress from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. We will have further discussions with the Minister of Health on the best system to increase organ donation rates.