A Newbridge woman who underwent a kidney transplant has spoken of her support of Wales’ opt-out system of organ donation.
Lesley Coles, 53, was a busy new mother when she had to have one of her kidneys removed due to a reflux disease.
Almost 32 years later, Lesley suddenly became very ill when her remaining kidney started to fail.
She was placed on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, which she underwent in June this year.
Lesley explained: “I was put on the transplant list in July 2015 and I kept working full-time until December 2015 when I was rushed into hospital. Four days later I was put on emergency dialysis.
“Up until the transplant operation I was on dialysis three times a week for four hours at a time.
“It was such a distressing time for us as my father had passed away in May and my sister was going through the process of being worked up to be a live kidney donor for me.
“Before all the tests were completed I received a call in June 2016 to say that a suitable kidney had been found. I had the operation the following morning.
“We had always been advocates of organ donation as a family, and welcome the new system in Wales. “Now though, the subject of organ donation isn’t just a topic of conversation, it is a reality for my family, having lived through the process.”
On December 1, last year, Wales became the first part of the UK to introduce a soft opt-out system.
People aged 18 and over who have lived in Wales for more than 12 months, and who die in Wales, are now regarded as having consented to organ donation unless they have opted out. This is called deemed consent.
A year on, the latest figures show that 39 organs were donated through the system of deemed consent.
During the last year, a total of 160 organs were transplanted.
Welsh Health Secretary Vaughan Gething AM said: “The latest figures for deemed consents in Wales are encouraging. We’re moving in the right direction, but I’m keen to see them increase in the future.
“I am extremely proud that, thanks to this legislation from the Welsh Government, we lead the way as the first nation in the UK to move to a soft opt-out system of consent.
“I fully expect that the new system we’ve put in place will create a step change in consent for organ donation in Wales. The benefits to those needing a transplant will be literally, life changing.”