EU transplant hope for London patients

5.21.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 23rd Apr 2008

European MPs have voted to introduce a new organ donor scheme that could bring hope for transplant patients across London.

As many as 10 people die each day across the continent while waiting in vain for an organ donation and some 40,000 patients are on EU waiting lists for a transplant.

Now a new EU-wide donor card and 24-hour emergency hotline is to be introduced in a bid to save lives by easing the task of matching patients with suitable organ donations.

London Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford has welcomed the decision.

She said: "This is the best possible example of the EU not only adding value to health services in individual nations but also giving many people the chance of life itself.

"We already have an EU-wide scheme in place for the storage of blood plasma which is based on British practice and sets the same high standards for everyone."

An opinion poll published last year found that 81% of EU citizens support the use of organ donor cards - but only 12% actually carry one. It also found that 56% of Europeans are willing to donate one of their organs after they die.

To sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register go to:

http://www.uktransplant.org.uk/ukt/how_to_become_a_donor/registration/consent.jsp

The results of the EU Organ Donation survey can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_publication/eurobarometers_en.htm