MAJOR charities have urged the Scottish Government to follow Wales after politicians made history by voting to introduce an opt-out system for organ donation.

Under the so-called "soft opt-out system", adults who live and die in Wales will be able to register a wish to be a donor or opt out.

If they have done neither they will be deemed to have given their consent.

Families will not have a veto in law, but Health Minister Mark Drakeford has said they will have a "clear right of objection" and organs will not be taken unless a family member is present.

The BMA's Welsh Secretary, Dr Richard Lewis, said Wales had "shown the rest of the UK the way forward".

The Evening Times has led an award-winning campaign, calling for an opt-out system in Scotland, which has been backed by more than 18,000 people.

A petition has also been formally lodged with the Scottish Government, which is due to publish its recommendations for organ donation shortly.

Kidney Wales Foundation (KWF) believes donor organ availability could be boosted by up to 35% under the new system, which is expected to be introduced by 2015.

A public consultation has now been launched in Belfast on replacing the current opt-in donor register with a "soft" opt-out system.

Charities, along with the British Medical Association, have now called for Scotland to follow the lead of Wales.

Currently, well over half of the Scottish population is not on the organ donor register, despite improvements in donation rates.

Glasgow Labour MSP Drew Smith has pledged to introduce a Member's Bill if the Scottish Government does not move towards opt-out.

He said: "I welcome this big step forward Wales has taken.

"My own proposal for a Bill in the Scottish Parliament would move us to a soft opt-out position here too and I hope that the SNP will provide the government support to make this happen.

"While we've significantly increased the number of Scottish donors, we still have too many people on waiting lists and too many organs not used, even where the individual would have wished to be a donor.

"The sensitive nature of the debate and the way in which the Welsh Assembly has deliberated about this are a testament to how these discussions can take place in a considered way, which ensures that we have the fullest possible debate and information so that the arguments on both sides are well understood by all."

Sandra Currie, chief executive officer of Kidney Research UK, said: "We anticipate the debate will continue in Scotland and indeed across the UK, with the hope of future changes that improve the health prospects for thousands of kidney patients."

Dr Sue Robertson, a renal physician and member of the BMA's Scottish Council, said: "This is great news and I hope this decision by politicians in Wales gives our MSPs the confidence to consider a similar change to the organ donation system.

"As long as there are patients waiting for transplants, the BMA believes that a soft opt-out system, as part of the overall package to increase donation, would save more lives. Now is the time for a serious debate about moving to opt-out."

Marjory Burns, director of British Heart Foundation Scotland, said: "This is a special and historic moment for a part of the UK that has decided to stand up and make a life-saving change.

"The Welsh have become the standard bearers and now it's up to Scotland to join them and introduce opt-out legislation of its own.

"The system, where everyone is considered a donor unless they say otherwise, will help increase the number of available organs and better reflect the wishes of the majority of the UK."

Scots TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who supports the Evening Times Opt for Life campaign, said: "The Welsh assembly is to be congratulated. This decision will save lives. I hope we can follow suit."

The BMA's Welsh Secretary, Dr Richard Lewis, said: "Patients across the country will now benefit directly or indirectly benefit from this Bill.

"This is the culmination of years of hard work. We must all now work hard to ensure the system works and that everybody understands it."

The new consent law will apply to over-18s who die in Wales if they have lived in Wales for more than 12 months. A two-year public information campaign will now follow.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "Significant progress has already been made in Scotland over the past five years, with a 74% increase in donation rates and a 33% increase in transplant rates.

"Scotland has more than 40% of the population signed up to the register, compared with the UK average of 30%.

"We will shortly publish our new donation and transplantation plan, which will set out how we will increase donation and transplantation rates over the period to 2020.

"We will monitor the impact of the proposed changes in Wales closely."

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk