A consultation is being launched today into a new 'opt-out' organ donation system.

As Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called on people to overcome a “fatal reluctance” to talk about organ donation with relatives, it emerged that there are currently 48 people in Cumbria waiting for a transplant.

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant show that in the past year about 1,100 families in the UK decided not to allow organ donation because they were unsure, or did not know whether their relatives would have wanted to donate an organ or not.

Every day three patients die needing a new organ.

In October, the Prime Minister announced the Government will change to an ‘opt-out’ system, shifting the balance of presumption in favour of organ donation, in a bid to save the lives of the 6,500 people currently waiting for a transplant.

The news was welcomed by the family of Carlisle toddler Mackenzie Wealleans, who died just days before his second birthday - after spending 60 days at the top of the international transplant register, desperately waiting for a heart transplant.

Speaking at the time, his mum Shelley, now living in Penrith, said: "It is absolutely amazing news... I'm not sure I can quite believe it."

Over the next three months, the Government is asking for comments on the defining issues of the new system:

  • How much say should families have in their deceased relative’s decision to donate their organs?
  • When would exemptions to ‘opt-out’ be needed, and what safeguards will be necessary?
  • How might a new system affect certain groups depending on age, disability, race or faith?

Mr Hunt said: “Every day, three people die for want of a transplant, which is why our historic plans to transform the way organ donation works are so important. We want as many people as possible to have their say as we shape the new opt-out process.

“But as well as changing the law, we also need to change the conversation – it can be a difficult subject to broach, but overcoming this fatal reluctance to talk openly about our wishes is key to saving many more lives in the future.”

Simon Gillespie, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “The Government’s commitment to an opt-out system is a commitment to ending the agonising pain felt by families who risk losing a loved one while they wait for an organ.

"There is a desperate shortage of organ donors in the UK, but about eight in 10 of us say we do want to donate our organs.

“Introducing an opt-out system in England will mean more people get the life-saving heart transplant they desperately need."

Fiona Loud, director of policy at Kidney Care UK, said: "We have an opportunity to hear everyone’s ideas on improving consent and to reduce the number of people dying needlessly while waiting for a transplant, so we urge everyone to take part, make your views known, and help shape the future of organ donation and transplantation in England."

Millie Banerjee, chairman of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "We welcome the Government’s commitment to the lifesaving power of organ donation, which is demonstrated by their desire to hold a consultation into an opt out system.

"We support any initiative which leads to more organ donors and more lives being saved. We hope the consultation starts a national conversation about organ donation.

Have your say here .