HEALTHCARE professionals and campaigners are urging families to discuss organ donation, ahead of a new change in the law.

This spring, England will move to an ‘opt-out’ system - meaning that all adults in the country will be considered to have agreed to be a donor, unless they have recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of a number of excluded groups.

The system change is sometimes referred to as ‘Max and Keira’s Law’.

Yet, despite the change, concerns remain that a considerable number of donations will still fall through where there is a degree of doubt among families.

In cases where it is not clear that the deceased person had expressed a will to donate, the family’s doubt could override their wishes.

Around 6,000 people across the UK are waiting for an organ transplant currently. In December, 40 people in Cumbria were on a donation waiting list.

Rachael Hogg from the Kendal Organ Town committee, who received a kidney transplant four years ago from her husband (and former town mayor), Chris, said: "The most important thing is that with the change in the law to mean people have to opt out of being a donor rather than opting in, it is now even more important to make your views on transplant known to your loved ones.

"With the change in law people may assume that they will become organ donors, but families will still be asked. So if you don't make your views known, donor organs may still be missed. Organ donation saves lives so please talk to your family about your wishes."