IKA wants to see goal of 50 living transplants achieved

The Irish Kidney Association has said it is looking forward to new legal provisions being commenced whereby people who do not wish to donate their organs can opt out.

The Human Tissue Act came into law this year.

It includes provisions for an online Opt Out register, that has yet to be commenced.

This will record details of people who choose not to be considered a potential donor.

IKA Chief Executive Carol Moore said that any person who does not opt out will be considered a potential donor, however organ donation will only go ahead if there is family consent.

There are currently over 600 people on the transplant waiting list.

Last year, there were a total of 282 organ transplants, including 30 living kidney transplants.

While this is the highest number in the last six years, the Irish Kidney Association has said the numbers are effectively back to pre-Covid levels.

It wants to see the goal of having 50 or more living kidney transplants achieved.

The Government has promised to introduce a national annual potential donor audit.

The IKA said this will guide hospitals and identify areas where greater organ donor awareness could help increase organ donations.

The IKA said that further infrastructure needs to be put on place to ensure increased organ transplantation.

National organ donor awareness week begins next Saturday.