A SALISBURY woman who received a lifesaving transplant when she was a child is reiterating calls to introduce an opt out system for organ donation after the number of people donating organs fell for the first time in 11 years.

Lucy Ryan had a heart transplant in 1993, a month before her third birthday.

She has launched a petition to get the government to reform the current system and introduce a "soft opt-out" organ and tissue donation system in the UK, which is being rolled out in Wales in December, to encourage more people to sign up.

Figures published last week revealed 22 Wiltshire residents have died waiting for a transplant in the past five years and 102 people in the county are currently waiting for a transplant.

And across the UK in 2014/15, the number of people donating organs fell for the first time in 11 years.

Lucy said: “The main thing is about educating people about it and making them have that conversation.

“That is why I want it to become the opt-out system.”

Her petition has gathered more than 500 signatures. However, Lucy says she needs a significant number of signatures to ensure the petition carries enough weight for it to be considered by politicians.

She added: "540 signatures is fantastic but it is a long way off before a committee of MPs will look at the petition and consider changing the system.”

NHS Blood and Transplant says on average, three people in the UK die each day in need of an organ transplant.

Currently, four out of ten families don’t give permission to donate when approached.

The figures also show that last year in Wiltshire, 26 people’s lives were saved or improved thanks to deceased donation. And in the county, 14 people also benefitted from a living donor transplant, where donors gave a kidney or part of their liver.

Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant’s director of organ donation and transplantation, added: “We cannot hope to save more lives unless there is a revolution in attitudes towards organ donation. We need everyone talk about organ donation with their families and agree to donate if ever they are asked."

Lucy, who will be competing in the British Transplant Games in August after a five year absence, says having a transplant has not stopped her from living a full life.

“It has not stopped me doing anything,” she added. “I am really lucky. It makes me appreciate life more. I wouldn’t be here [without the transplant].”

So far more than 500 people have signed Lucy's petition. To sign it go to change.org and search for soft opt-out.

For more information about soft opt-out visit organdonationwales.org

n To join the organ donor register go to organdonation.nhs.uk