Wales becomes first country in UK to introduce soft opt-out system for organ donation

Our health and social affairs correspondent Rob Osborne explains how the new system works

Wales has become the first country in the UK to introduce a soft opt-out system for organ and tissue donation.

The new law will now presume consent for people's organs and tissues to be donated unless they stipulate otherwise.

On top of this, it will mean a person's family and friends will have a significant role to play in the ultimate decision to donate an organ.

This means that each person has to make a choice:

• Opt in: You can opt in and join the organ donor register

• Opt out: You can opt out and say you're not prepared to have your organs donated

• Do nothing: Or you can do nothing - where it's then presumed you're happy to donate.

According to the latest figures there are 224 people in Wales on the transplant waiting list.

With only a third of us having signed up to the organ donation register, people are dying waiting for a transplant.

Watch: Changes to the organ donation law: What the future may hold for Wales