RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans will today urge Prime Minister Theresa May to bring in new laws to make sure more organs are available for transplant.

He is backing constituent Susan Robinson’s campaign to change the system so people have to opt out of the donor register rather than opt in.

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The Conservative backbencher will also raise the issue with health secretary Jeremy Hunt and through a special ‘adjournment debate’ at Westminster.

Chipping mum Mrs Robinson, whose 15-year-old daughter Stephanie has been waiting seven months for a kidney transplant, wants England to move to the Welsh system of ‘presumed consent’ for organ donation to cut waiting times.

On Monday, the Lancashire Telegraph revealed that in April there were 84 patients waiting for organs across East Lancashire’s seven boroughs.

In Blackburn with Darwen the figure was 13; in Burnley 13; in Hyndburn 17; in Pendle 10; in Ribble Valley 13; in Rossendale nine; and in Chorley nine.

Mrs Robinson, whose daughter has 10 hours of home dialysis every day, has been backed by Jean Hanson from Ightenhill in Burnley.

The 59-year-old donated a kidney to husband Raymond, 63, in 2015.

Mr Evans said: “A system of ‘presumed consent’ where people can opt out of the organ donor register rather than having to ‘opt in’ would be much better.

“There are dozen in Lancashire and thousands across the country whose lives are on hold and suffer daily stress waiting for an organ.

“This would cut those waiting times, which sadly may be too long for some.

“I am meeting the prime minister tomorrow and will raise this issue with her as it works well in Wales.

“I will raise it at Health Questions in the House of Commons and seek an adjournment debate.”

Mrs Robinson said: “I welcome Mr Evans support.

“The system of ‘presumed consent’ would not stop people opting out but reduce the daily wait of not just Stephanie but thousands across England.”

Mrs Hanson said: “I was lucky enough to donate to Raymond but there are thousands waiting for organs.I support a move to people ‘opting out’ rather than ‘opting in’.”

In 2015, 13 people in Lancashire died before they received the organ they needed while 74 received their transplants.