A NEW  system of deemed consent in Wales is saving the lives of more transplant patients, figures show.

A total of 31 deceased people donated their organs from December 1 2015 to May 31 this year, compared to 23 for the same period in 2014-15.

Labour said the figures showed that the decision to reject a bill calling for the same change in Scotland had been a “missed opportunity.”

Of the 60 organs transplanted in the six months since the opt-out system was introduced in Wales, more than half (32) came from individuals whose consent was deemed.

The Welsh government described the figures as “very encouraging" and the British Medical Association urged Scottish ministers to "take note."

The Evening Times has led a five-year campaign calling on the Scottish Government to introduce an opt-out system, which is designed to make it easier for people to become organ donors.

It allows people who want to be a donor to either register a decision to opt in or do nothing, whereby consent will be deemed.

Earlier this year, a bill led by former Labour MSP Anne McTaggart was rejected by the SNP Government.

The Government has pledged to take forward its own legislation but has not set a timescale.

Scottish Labour Health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “These figures from Wales show the difference that simple change in our organ donation system can achieve.

“It shows the huge missed opportunity when MSPs voted against Labour’s plans to change the system in Scotland in our last Parliament.

“In the case of SNP MSPs who said they supported the system and then voted against it, they now see real evidence that this system saves lives.”

Jill Vickerman, Scotland National Director of the BMA, said: “These statistics are extremely positive and illustrate the impact that changing to an opt out system can have. 

"I hope the Scottish Government takes note of this when it is publishing its consultation on increasing organ donation rates in Scotland.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport, Vaughan Gething AM, said: “This law was introduced to address the chronic shortage of organs for transplant which we face in Wales.

“I fully expect that the new system will create a step change in consent for organ donation in Wales.

“The early indications are that this certainly is the case.”

A survey carried out in Wales in February 2016 showed that 74% of the Welsh public could describe the changes to the system.

Approximately 5% of the population have opted out (now around 167,309).