Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic
Abstract Context In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, England implemented a ‘soft’ opt-out system of consent to deceased organ donation. As part of a wider evaluation, this analysis focused on the perceptions of health care professionals, specifically their experiences of implementation. Method...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12224-8 |
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| author | Mustafa Al-Haboubi Leah McLaughlin Lorraine Williams Jane Noyes Stephen O’Neill Paul Boadu Jennifer Bostock Nicholas Mays |
| author_facet | Mustafa Al-Haboubi Leah McLaughlin Lorraine Williams Jane Noyes Stephen O’Neill Paul Boadu Jennifer Bostock Nicholas Mays |
| author_sort | Mustafa Al-Haboubi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Context In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, England implemented a ‘soft’ opt-out system of consent to deceased organ donation. As part of a wider evaluation, this analysis focused on the perceptions of health care professionals, specifically their experiences of implementation. Methods Mixed-methods study informed by Normalisation Process Theory, based on two national surveys of health care professionals and interviews, observations and document analysis, across two case study sites. Routine NHS Blood and Transplant’s audit data provided context. Findings 70 interviews with 59 staff and 244 first and 738 second surveys. COVID-19 affected every aspect of implementation. Although supportive in principle, many staff were unconvinced that legislative changes alone would increase consent rates. Many staff were redeployed or left their jobs. As a result, staff were not able to work collectively as intended for implementation. Staff received routine donor audit data suggesting the law was yet to make a difference to consent rates, reducing their enthusiasm and commitment. Conclusions Implementation could have been more impactful if delayed. The National Health Service needs to reprioritise organ donation and relaunch the implementation plan in the post-pandemic period, though it is unlikely the changes will bring about a significant increase in consent rates. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c4adb9551ab2411e80d2ce3fabae8c8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-c4adb9551ab2411e80d2ce3fabae8c8b2025-02-02T12:14:25ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-01-0125111910.1186/s12913-025-12224-8Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemicMustafa Al-Haboubi0Leah McLaughlin1Lorraine Williams2Jane Noyes3Stephen O’Neill4Paul Boadu5Jennifer Bostock6Nicholas Mays7Policy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor UniversityPolicy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineSchool of Medical and Health Sciences, Bangor UniversityPolicy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicinePolicy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicinePolicy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicinePolicy Innovation and Evaluation Research Unit, Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical MedicineAbstract Context In May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, England implemented a ‘soft’ opt-out system of consent to deceased organ donation. As part of a wider evaluation, this analysis focused on the perceptions of health care professionals, specifically their experiences of implementation. Methods Mixed-methods study informed by Normalisation Process Theory, based on two national surveys of health care professionals and interviews, observations and document analysis, across two case study sites. Routine NHS Blood and Transplant’s audit data provided context. Findings 70 interviews with 59 staff and 244 first and 738 second surveys. COVID-19 affected every aspect of implementation. Although supportive in principle, many staff were unconvinced that legislative changes alone would increase consent rates. Many staff were redeployed or left their jobs. As a result, staff were not able to work collectively as intended for implementation. Staff received routine donor audit data suggesting the law was yet to make a difference to consent rates, reducing their enthusiasm and commitment. Conclusions Implementation could have been more impactful if delayed. The National Health Service needs to reprioritise organ donation and relaunch the implementation plan in the post-pandemic period, though it is unlikely the changes will bring about a significant increase in consent rates.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12224-8Deemed consentOrgan donationImplementation |
| spellingShingle | Mustafa Al-Haboubi Leah McLaughlin Lorraine Williams Jane Noyes Stephen O’Neill Paul Boadu Jennifer Bostock Nicholas Mays Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic BMC Health Services Research Deemed consent Organ donation Implementation |
| title | Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_full | Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_short | Perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act in England during the Covid-19 pandemic |
| title_sort | perceptions and experiences of healthcare professionals of implementing the organ donation deemed consent act in england during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | Deemed consent Organ donation Implementation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12224-8 |
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