Health Secretary Alan Milburn threw his weight behind the Evening Echo's donor card campaign when he visited Basildon Hospital.

He pledged to hold meetings with doctors and patient groups to see how the number of card carriers could be increased to boost the number of organ transplants which has been the subject of an Echo campaign.

The pledge came on the same day that 10,000 donor cards were delivered to South Essex Health Authority for distribution to health centres, GP surgeries, pharmacies and other outlets throughout south-east Essex.

Mr Milburn reiterated the commitment he had made to Basildon MP Angela Smith when she praised the Echo's campaign and raised the issue in the Commons.

Mr Milburn said: "It is very, very important in my view that we increase the number of people with organ donor cards. I carry one. It does not cost anything. It just means that you can help someone else."

In the wake of the Alder Hey furore over removal of patients' organs without their relatives' knowledge, he added: "It is very important that people understand that there is no conflict between the new rules on informed consent and medical research and organ donation."

Mr Milburn spent nearly two hours at the hospital where he officially opened the £2million new day surgery unit which is now nearing completion.

As expected, he also announced more than £9.5million was being given to south Essex to open an additional 158 beds - 108 in Basildon and another 50 in Southend Hospital.

Donor card review - Health Secretary Alan Milburn, who was visiting Basildon Hospital yesterday with MP Angela Smith, takes a look at the Echo

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

By Pat Stone

Reporter's e-mail: pat.stone@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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