HEART charity leaders have issued a call for action to Scottish Government leaders as Wales becomes the first country to introduce an automatic organ donor register.

A landmark new law will come into effect today, which could offer fresh hope for hundreds of people waiting for a life-saving transplant.

The revolutionary system means adults automatically become donors after their death - unless they have chosen to opt out beforehand.

Health officials argue that it will save hundreds of lives.

Today at the Scottish Parliament, MSPs will convene for the third day of evidence for a bill to introduce the same system in Scotland.

Glasgow Labour MSP Anne McTaggart is driving forward the bill on the back of the Evening Times’ award-winning Opt for Life campaign.

The Welsh Government predicts the new law could increase the number of organ donors by as much as a quarter.

Wales’ health minister Mark Drakeford said: ““The change to a soft opt-out system for organ donation will deliver a revolution in consent.

“Organ donation saves lives; increasing the rate of organ donation allows us to save more lives. That’s the key motivation for this significant change.”

BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie said:“Sadly hundreds of people die every year waiting for a transplant because there is a desperate shortage of organ donors,” he added.

“Other European countries that already use an opt-out system have much higher donor rates than the UK.

“We campaigned strongly in Wales to introduce soft opt-out and now it’s time for the rest of the UK to follow their lead.”

Anne McTaggart MSP said: “It’s fantastic to see the Human Transplantation (Wales) Bill coming into force today in Wales.

"With three people dying across the UK every day in need of a transplant, I just don’t think we can afford to wait any longer to implement this much needed reform here in Scotland.”

According to the latest figures, only 8% of eligible adults in Wales have decided to opt out ahead of the new law today.