A Cumbrian woman who underwent a simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant has welcomed the law change on organ donation.

Becky Seaton, 38, from Scotby, had the lifesaving surgery at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital in January 2016.

Now she’s welcomed legislation that came into effect yesterday, which means all UK adults in England are considered to have given consent to donate their organs after death, unless they opt out or belong to one of a number of excluded groups.

The mum-of-two, who lives with fiancé Jamie Guyan, 38, said: “It’s fantastic, it just means so many more lives will be saved by this legislation and it will offer more hope.

“I was on the waiting list for 15 months but some people can wait for years.

“It is life changing, beforehand I could not even walk to the village shop. I was waiting to start dialysis and I had high blood pressure.”

Though she’s been ‘shielding’ at home for the past 10 weeks because transplant patients are one of the groups deemed more at risk from the coronavirus, she’s now got fighting fit.

So much so Becky won two gold medals, for the 100 metres and archery, at the British Transplant Games, held in Newport, Wales, in August last year.

The teaching assistant, who works at Scotby Primary School, added: “It is important that, even after this change in the legislation, we still speak to each other with regard to organ donation, it is very important to share your wishes with loved ones.”

Carlisle’s Conservative MP John Stevenson has also welcomed the new law, known as Max and Keira's Law.

He said: “It will undoubtedly help a lot of people.

“As a general rule people should have the freedom of choice when it comes to a personal decision.

“I don’t see anything wrong with this law because people have the choice to opt out.”

Cumbria’s Lib Dem MP Tim Farron, also previously welcomed moves by the Government to bring in an opt out system.

Healthwatch Cumbria, a ‘consumer champion’ of healthcare in the area wants to get people’s views on the changes.

Sue Stevenson, Healthwatch chief operating officer, said: “We are here to listen to views and experiences of health and social care.

“We listen to and amplify views to connect patient experience with service design and delivery.

“We recognise that changes to healthcare legislation will often prompt a range of reactions from our communities.

“In instances such as this, we are ready to listen to these views – to hear the experiences and the opinions of Cumbrians on this issue, and on their wider health and social care experience.”

To contact ring 0300 303 8567 or email: info@healthwatchcumbria.co.uk