Website of the Department of Health

Organ donation

The UK-wide Organ Donation Taskforce, chaired by Elisabeth Buggins, was established in 2006 to identify barriers to organ donation and recommend actions needed to increase organ donation and procurement within the current legal framework. 

• Organs for transplants: the Taskforce's report and supporting evidence
• Press release 16 January 2008: Fifty per cent increase in organ donation possible within five years
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Implementation of the Organ Donation Taskforce recommendations

Organ Donation Taskforce Programme Delivery Board

The Board's purpose is to drive delivery of the ODTF Recommendations that aim to increase organ donation by 50% in five years.

• More about the Programme Delivery Board
• Letter (18 April2008 ) from NHS Medical Director Sir Bruce Keogh outlining the Department's initial plans for implementing the Organ Donation Taskforce's 14 recommendations.

Organ donation: presumed consent

Alongside the Taskforce's activity, debate has been developing around different systems of consent for organ donation in the UK.  In July 2007, the Chief Medical Officer in his 2006 Annual Report On the State of Public Health supported the idea of an opt-out system with proper safeguards and good public information.  The Prime Minister has also called for a public debate on the issue of presumed consent. 

In recognition of the complex issues and widely differing viewpoints surrounding systems of consent,  the Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, asked the Organ Donation Taskforce to look at the range of issues involved in an opt out system of consent taking into account the views of the public and stakeholders on the clinical, ethical, legal and societal issues.  The Taskforce has established Expert Working Groups to advise on these areas. 

Contributing to the debate

If you wish to let the Taskforce know your view on Presumed Consent or other issues around systems of consent for organ donation you can write to Pauline Rouse, Room 611 Wellington House, Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8UG, or

• email odtfonpresumedconsent@dh.gsi.gov.uk (opens new window)

Further Information about the Taskforce

These pages contain information about the work the Organ Donation Taskforce is undertaking and will be updated regularly over the coming months.

• Organ donation

Guidance and publications

Guidance and other documents on transplantation services.

• Guidance and publications

Transplantation framework

Saving lives, valuing donors: One Year On

Published: 02/10/2004

Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: One Year On describes the progress made by the Government and UKT since the launch of the framework last July.

• Saving Lives, Valuing Donors: One Year On

Saving lives, valuing donors: A transplant framework for England

Published: 07/07/2003

This document sets out key aims for organ and tissue transplantation over the next 10 years. It describes good practice based on national and international evidence which the Government believes the NHS and society can use together to save lives and maximise the benefits of organ and tissue transplantation.

• Saving lives, valuing donors: A transplant framework for England