Local Euro MP backs EU-wide organ donor card

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Apr 2008

Local Liberal Democrat Euro MP, Diana Wallis, has called for an EU-wide organ donor card to tackle the shortage of organs for transplant.

Across the EU 40,000 people are on waiting lists and some ten people a day die waiting for a transplant; including at least one a day in the UK, because the right organ was not available.

Diana Wallis MEP, joined her colleagues in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today by voting overwhelmingly for the creation of a card and hotline that would operate across Europe.

Diana Wallis MEP, a Vice-President of the European Parliament, said:

"It is clear that the EU-wide donor card and transplant hotline could significantly speed up the process of finding the right donor.

"It is also important to note however that the new card would not replace existing national donor card systems."

Today's vote showed a majority of MEPs are in favour of new legislation on organ donation, including an EU-wide donor card system, accompanied by a 24-hour transplant hotline, which it is hoped would alleviate organ shortages. Organ trafficking was a further issue addressed in the report adopted by the European Parliament today.