A consultation on a possible shift to an opt-out transplant system in Scotland will take place "in the near future."

The Scottish Government acknowledged that "more needs to be done" after figures showed 36 patients died while waiting for a transplant.

A further 66 had to be removed from list, including those who have become too unwell for donation.

More than 400 patients were given a potentially life-saving transplant last year.

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The Evening Times is campaigning for a shift to an opt-out transplant system, whereby individualswho wish to donate organs after death are not required to sign up to the organ donor register.

Government figures showed there were 99 deceased organ donors for 2015/16 and 84 living donors leading to 415 patients receiving a transplant.

Dr Sue Robertson, a member of the BMA’s Scottish Council, and a renal doctor in Dumfries: “It is good to see that donation rates have increased after a decrease in the previous year, but people are still dying whilst waiting for organs.

"Organ transplantation is an area that has seen amazing medical achievements but has not yet reached its full life-saving and life-transforming potential. We strongly believe that there is still more that can be done to improve organ donation rates and we have written to the Minister to ask her to clarify the timetable for the proposed consultation. All the time we waste means that more lives will be lost.”

At the end of March 2016, there were still 542 patients waiting for a transplant in Scotland.

Public health minister Aileen Campbell said "signficant" progress had been made but aknowleged that further action is required.

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She said: "Since we started our plan of improvement in 2008 we have seen an 83% increase in deceased donor numbers, a 57% increase in the number of transplants undertaken and the active transplant waiting list has also reduced by 21%," she said.

"Today's figures are encouraging but for as long as people are dying waiting for transplants, more needs to be done. As our campaign says, we need everybody.

"The Scottish Government will, in the near future, be launching a consultation on increasing organ donation. It will include proposals for a potential soft opt-out system for Scotland. Subject to the outcomes of that consultation, we will bring forward legislation."