MEASURES are being taken by the Welsh Assembly and the Hywel Dda health board to promote organ donation and offer support to patients and their families.

In Pembrokeshire alone, there are currently 15 people waiting for a kidney on the active transplant list, and a further five on the suspended list.

Plaid Cymru AM Nerys Evans has welcomed the One Wales Government announcement to apply for powers for presumed consent for organ donation in Wales, which would mean people would be presumed organ donors unless they had joined an opt out register.

Mrs Evans said: “We need more organ donors and presumed consent is proven to work.”

According to figures, 90% of people in Wales support organ donation but not enough have acted on their good intentions and signed up.

In light of this, the Hywel Dda health board and every acute trust in the UK now has a specially trained resident donor co-ordinator to support and guide bereaved families through the organ donation process.

Steve Maycock takes the role for Bronglais and Withybush general hospitals and Phil Walton for Prince Philip and West Wales General hospitals.

Mr Maycock, who is from Wolfscastle, said: “Together we now provide a resource both educationally and professionally for all of Hywel Dda health board’s staff, and a point of contact for all patients and their families to organ and tissue donation services 24/7.”

Anybody can sign up to the organ donor register at www.uktransplant.org.uk or by calling the NHS organ donor line on 0845 60 60 400.