CHARITY leaders will make the case for a change to an opt-out transplant system tomorrow at the Scottish Conservative Party conference.

Representatives from British Heart Foundation Scotland will discuss their backing for the switch in the organ donation system.

The charity wants a change in the law to a 'soft' opt-out system where people would be required to register if they do not want to donate their organs after death but which respects the right for families to say no. The Evening Times is leading the campaign for the change.

The BHF Scotland has organised events at all four party conferences to promote the opt-out message, starting tomorrow in Edinburgh.

BHF Scotland policy adviser David McColgan said: "We want to start a discussion among the parties and find out their position ahead of the 2016 elections. Over the next six months the parties will be thinking about what they have in their manifestos.

"This is not about heart transplants, it's about organ donation as a whole."

Earlier this year, in a hearing of our petition, a panel of MSPs urged the Scottish Government to begin consulting on a possible change before waiting for an evaluation of the Welsh system of opt-out, which is due to come into force on December 1, next year.

Research carried out by the Evening Times at the start of our Opt for Life camp-aign showed that more than half of MSPs would back a change to an opt-out system.

Both Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats signalled their backing for the change, which is also supported by the BMA.

Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McLaughlin has pledged to raise a member's bill if the government does not act.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust, which backs the change, will speak at next Saturday's Labour conference in Perth.

Kidney Research UK is also being lined up for another event.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk