Organs: Donors

(asked on 23rd May 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to encourage organ donation in BAME communities.


Answered by
Jackie Doyle-Price Portrait
Jackie Doyle-Price
This question was answered on 7th June 2019

Shortages of organs for transplant are relevant to people from all backgrounds but are particularly acute for black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients, who are more likely to need an organ transplant. The Department launched a campaign in July 2018, delivered by NHS Blood and Transplant, with support from the National Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic Transplant Alliance, to increase donation rates by raising awareness and breaking down barriers to donation within these communities. A toolkit for hon. Members is available at the following link:

http://bit.ly/bameODtoolkit

As part of the campaign, funding was made available for a community investment scheme and in January 2019, 25 projects were successful in sharing £140,000 in funding to break down myths and barriers and increase support for organ donation among BAME communities. Organisations representing Jain, Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Swahili, black and Asian Christians, black African and Caribbean and multi-faith groups received funding for their projects.

In addition, the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent Act) 2019 will be introducing a new system of consent for organ and tissue donation in England, from 2020, to help increase the number of donors. In April, NHS Blood and Transplant launched a 12-month communication campaign before the law comes into force, to raise awareness of the changes and the options available under the new system. The campaign will target BAME communities and campaign materials have been developed to resonate with different audiences and communities. NHS Blood and Transplant also plans to translate the leaflet containing details of the new law into different languages. NHS Blood and Transplant will be seeking the support of various BAME communities and faith and belief organisations to spread the campaign message.

From 2020, health education will become compulsory in all state-funded primary and secondary schools. This will include the teaching of the science relating to blood, organ and stem cell donation.

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