Dear editor,

I was pleased to hear that public views are being sought on the proposed changes to the organ donor register (Western Telegraph, October 22nd) My father has been on kidney dialysis for five years and is one of many people on the transplant waiting list. Unfortunately, a huge majority of people have still not registered. None of us know if we will ever be affected by the need for a transplant. Ask the thousands on the waiting list if they ever thought they would be on it.

A recent news article reported that about 25% of the population is registered to be donors.

However, a survey established that 70% of people would agree to be organ donors under the opt-out system.

By simply switching the system from opt-in to opt-out, people can still exclude themselves from the register.

But more importantly, the number of potential donors would dramatically increase, which could only benefit the thousands of people in desperate need of a transplant.

Whether the opt-out system is introduced or not, the need for widespread debate can only help to increase awareness and promote understanding of this issue.

Beverly Ormond 54 Honeyborough Grove, Neyland.