THE UK has one of the lowest rates for organ donation in Europe and the US.

Figures for 2006 show there were 12.9 donors per million of the population, putting the UK in the bottom five out of 18 countries.

Germany, France, Poland, Italy and Croatia all had higher rates while Spain, which has a system of presumed consent, had the highest rate at 35.5 donors.

Figures for the decade 1997 to 2007 also show that, while the number of people receiving transplants in the UK has remained steady, the numbers on the transplant list has increased by almost 40 per cent.

The UK's poor position prompted a report last week, which the Government hoped would boost the number of organs available for transplant.

The report said an extra 1,200 organ transplants could be carried out each year if its plans were implemented.

Health Minister Alan Johnson gave backing for 14 recommendations intended to increase UK organ donation rates by 50 per cent over the next five years.

They included the introduction of dedicated teams to retrieve organs 24 hours a day and an increase in the number of transplant co-ordinators to around 200.

The system of presumed consent, which means hospitals can take organs unless people specifically opt out of the scheme, did not form part of the proposals.

But it had earlier been backed by prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who signalled his support for the way the scheme is run in Spain.

Mr Johnson later said he was also attracted to the scheme but the issue is open to debate.

9:47am Wednesday 23rd January 2008

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