THANK goodness there may soon be some sense over the whole business of organ donation.

The government is now considering whether England should follow Wales in bringing in a system of taking body parts by people having to specifically opt out if they do not wish this to happen.

Currently, doctors can only take body parts from those carrying a donor card – in other words, only if they have given their express consent that they want this to happen - or if their relatives give permission.

The Welsh government changed the rules in 2015 to require everyone over 18 to expressly opt out of donating organs.

Generally, there were more organ transplants in 2015/16 across the UK than ever before with 1,364 people donating organs after their death. But the reality is that around three patients still die every day waiting for a suitable organ.

The UK still has one of the lowest rates of consent for organ donation in Europe and family refusal is still the biggest obstacle to donation.

All these faceless figures mean little until you bring it down to individuals and their lives.

Local mum Natalie Kerr was dying before a double lung transplant transformed her life. Now, the former Royal Bolton Hospital nurse can enjoy her days and her two children still have their Mum with them.

I heard Natalie speak about her tough medical journey just recently and she is not only a wonderful ambassador for transplants but an inspirational and practical person. More, she is the embodiment of exactly why it is so important that we all embrace the idea of offering our organs after death to save the lives of others.

Conversely, I have a young friend – a mum of two lovely boys who all live in Horwich – who is still waiting for a double lung transplant. Her life is so limited and, in spite of the wonderful way she keeps positive, it must be incredibly difficult to hope.

Currently, when a family says “no” to organ donation someone waiting for a transplant may miss out on their only chance of a life. So, the opting out scheme is a great way to save so many more lives.

Just imagine how YOU would feel if someone you loved was on that waiting list, relying on the sacrifice of another family to give your relative life. We urgently need to change the rules.