Rise in number of islanders signed up to Organ Register

More than 500 people have registered their wishes on the Organ Donor Register since a campaign was launched to inform islanders about a change in Jersey’s system of organ donation.

Since 1 July there has been an assumption in law that adults consent to donating their organs after death unless they say otherwise. The aim of the law, which was agreed by the States Assembly in April 2018, is to make it easier for islanders to donate their organs and potentially save more lives.

If you do not want to donate your organs the best way to record your decision is to contact the National Organ Donor Register by logging on to the website or by phoning 0300 123 2323. You can also contact the Register to expressly consent to be a donor.

In May, in the lead-up to the change in law, the Government of Jersey launched a campaign reminding islanders to have a conversation about organ donation with their families and loved ones to make their views known. As part of the campaign, information has been posted to households as well as on the Government’s social media channels. Leaflets explaining the law change in English, Polish and Portuguese, can also be found on the Government’s website, gov.je, by searching "organ donation".

At the beginning of the campaign, which started on 20 May, there were 21,030, islanders registered on the Organ Donor Register. Latest figures show that this number has now increased by 531 – to 21,561. The Government of Jersey is working with the National Organ Donation Register to find out how many islanders have registered to opt in and how many have registered to opt out.

Health Minister Deputy Richard Renouf said: "It’s fantastic to see that the number of people who have registered their wishes on the Organ Donation Register has grown. In circumstances where organ donation is a possibility, medical staff will consult the Register in the first instance to see if someone has registered their decision to be, or not to be, a donor.

"We recognise that not everyone wants to be a donor and that is why it is so important that people speak with their families and friends to make their views known. I would urge anyone who has not yet done so to have the conversation about organ donation while they are well rather than leaving families having to make a decision in the awful aftermath of an accident or illness."