A CAMPAIGN has been launched to raise awareness of changes to how organ donation will work in Wales due to take place in two years time.

On December 1 2015 legislation putting in place a so-called soft opt-out system will come into force.

It means people will have been deemed to have consented to donate their organs after death unless they previously stated otherwise.

The Welsh Government has now started a drive to inform people of the changes, and have launched a website to explain what they mean and why they are needed.

One of the implications of the new system is that those who do not want their organs donated will have to register.

First minister Carwyn Jones says organ donation is an issue that “could affect every one of us”.

He said: “Currently over 200 people in Wales are on transplant waiting lists.

“In 2012/13, out of 244 potential donors in Wales only 52 of those became actual donors. This is a statistic we want to see improved so that we save more lives.”

The law on organ donation was passed earlier this year after a marathon session of the National Assembly, which ran so late into the night the lights almost went out on AMs.

Ministers hope the law will increase the number of donor organs available to people waiting for a transplant, such as for a heart, lungs, kidney or liver.

The new law will apply to adults who have lived in Wales for 12 months and won’t apply to some adults such as those who may lack mental capacity.

A person in a relationship to the deceased can also block donation at the time of death, on the basis that he or she knew they didn’t want to be a donor.

Mark Drakeford, health minister said: “I’d urge everyone to take a look at our new organ donation Wales website and see for themselves how organ donation can, and does, impact on people’s lives.

He said: “With the launch of this website, we have started our two year communication programme to ensure everyone in Wales is made aware of this significant piece of new legislation, and their choices, before it comes into force on 1st December 2015.”

For more information visit http://organdonationwales.org/