The new 'opt-out' organ donation English law: Is the NHS ready for this?

In May 2020, the new 'opt-out' organ donation law was passed in England. This law is a crucial step to help battle the long waiting lists of patients awaiting a transplant. This article aims to explore some of the challenges that the transplant teams may face with the new law, as well as raising awareness among the junior doctors, especially with the new COVID-19 transplant guidelines. Successful transplantations require immense training of healthcare professionals, fast retrieval services, pre- and postoperative care of patients, intensive care management, life-long follow-up and management of patients. Organ transplant surgery is a life-changing moment for a patient. Ultimately, commissioning groups, clinicians and managers need to work together, evaluate the changes required and enact thorough business plans to ensure the NHS is not overwhelmed. Together with increasing the awareness of organ donation within the public, the government needs to support the NHS to fund, train and manage transplant centres to welcome this much-awaited 'opt-out' organ donation law in England successfully. © Royal College of Physicians 2021. All rights reserved.