THE father of west Belfast boy Dáithí Mac Gabhann who is awaiting a heart transplant yesterday said "we can’t afford any more delays" as he urged Stormont politicians not to lose momentum in plans to change organ donation legislation.
Máirtín Mac Gabhann joined forces with British Heart Foundation NI to give evidence to the health committee in ensuring the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill is in law by the end of this mandate.
The Bill is now at committee hearing stage where MLAs are hearing evidence from experts and campaigners on the proposed legislative change.
Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK without a soft opt-out system of organ donation. Under the proposed legislation, everyone would be considered as willing to donate their organs unless they have formally opted out.
Figures show 134 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the north, including 15 waiting on a new heart. Last year 11 people died while awaiting an organ transplant.
Five-year-old Dáithí has been on the waiting list for more than three years after he was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome with his parents setting up the Donate4Dáithí campaign to raise awareness of organ donation.
Mr Mac Gabhann said the "biggest obstacle for us at this stage is time and we can’t afford any more delays".
"We encourage all of our politicians to make sure this bill has the best chance of going through during this mandate and thank them too for their work to date," he said.
"Our health service is ready, our specialist nurses are ready, the public is ready, and more importantly all those on waiting lists for the gift of life are ready.
"Dáithí has been waiting on the gift of a new heart for over three years, and when there is a change of law that could help all those people waiting, then it just makes sense.
"The end goal of our campaign is to totally normalise organ donation is society and this change of law is a big step in that direction."
Ferghal McKinney of BHF NI said there is no time to lose in ensuring the Bill is passed before the next election.
"We have a great opportunity to change the lives of those who are on the transplant waiting list," he said.
"We have seen the difference the change has made in Wales since 2015, where both the consent rate and donation rate has increased.
"We must get this important piece of legislation over the line in this Assembly mandate and we will do all we can to support legislators. One person’s decision to donate their organs is a gift that can save and improve the lives of up to nine other people.
"We believe a change in the legislation, along with a strengthened health system and a public information campaign will lead to more people receiving the gift of a donated organ."
