DUMBARTON and the Vale’s MSP has expressed disappointment in reaction to West Dunbartonshire having the second-lowest population percentage signed up to the organ donor register.
Locally, 28,868 people are registered as organ donors – which represents just 32 per cent of the population.
As of May this year, there are 10 people in West Dunbartonshire currently on the transplant waiting list.
READ MORE: 'Thousands have died' while waiting for organ transplant
The figures were unveiled as part of a recently released online organ donor register map, outlining percentages of populations in local authority areas across the UK who are currently signed up as organ donors.
At the moment, people must opt in to the system in order to donate their organs for transplants after their death.
And Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie says the numbers show an opt-out organ donation system is needed.
Jackie Baillie expressed her disappointment at the findings
Ms Baillie said: “It is disappointing that such a small percentage of people in West Dunbartonshire are registered as organ donors.
“Organ donors are quite literally life savers for the thousands of people who are waiting on transplants.
“Scottish Labour has long supported an opt-out organ donation system, not just in Scotland but across the rest of the UK too.
“It is clear that we need this legislation to come before parliament as quickly as possible so that those people waiting on transplants get the treatment that they need.”
READ MORE: Presumed-consent organ donation plan backed by patients and charities
Across Greater Glasgow and Clyde there are 194 people in need of a kidney transplant, with 48 per cent of the population signed up to the register.
In a bid to boost the number of people in the West of Scotland already signed up to the register, including in West Dunbartonshire, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s specialist organ donation staff recently hosted a stand to raise awareness at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow, for Organ Donation Week.
The map can be viewed at www.arcgis.com/apps/Styler/index.html?appid=44a3f48caae14bee8a7bb82ad1115a5b
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