Organ donation roadshow to visit Vale (From Barry And District News)

Organ donation roadshow to visit Vale

10:10am Friday 8th February 2013 in News

THE Heart to Heart roadshow is visiting towns and villages across Wales, and members of the public can drop in and have a heart to heart chat with friendly experts to find out more about organ donation.

If in favour of organ donation, visitors will be encouraged to sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register and to have a conversation with their loved ones to make them aware of their decision.

The Heart to Heart roadshow is part of the Welsh Government’s Heart to Heart campaign, which is encouraging people to get talking about organ donation, and whether for or against, make their wishes known to family and friends.

The roadshow will give people the chance to have an informal chat and get information about organ donation, how they can sign up to become a potential organ donor. There’s no need to make an appointment, people can simply drop in whilst out and about. A Welsh Government Bill to change the system of consent to deceased organ donation in Wales from the current opt-in system to a soft optout was laid before the National Assembly for Wales in December 2012.

Under the new proposed system, people will still be able to register a wish to be an organ donor, or they can register a wish not to be a donor.

However if they do neither, then it will be in the knowledge their consent to donation will be deemed to have been given. A soft optout system means that families are still fully involved in discussions about donation.

If passed, it is hoped the new law will come into force in 2015. An extensive two-year public awareness campaign will start immediately following the new law receiving Royal Assent to inform people of what the new legislation will mean and what their options under the system are.

More information on the proposed legislation and the Heart to Heart campaign can be found at www.wales.gov.uk/organdonation

Heart to Heart Roadshow:

● Wednesday, February 13, 9am-noon, Cardiff Bay Retail Park, Ferry Road, Cardiff Bay.

● Thursday, February 14, 9am-noon, Capital Retail Park, Leckwith, Cardiff.

● Thursday, February 14, 1pm-5pm, Morrisons, Penny Way, Barry.