THE Government has launched a consultation into plans for an opt-out organ donation system, which were inspired by a Winsford youngster.

Prime Minister Theresa May announced in October that the Government will shift towards a donation system in England which presumes consent after being inspired by Max Johnson.

The nine-year-old spent 10 months at Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, after being diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy last December.

Much of that time was spent waiting for a heart transplant, and following a high-profile campaign Mrs May wrote to Max, informing him the opt-out donation rule would be known as Max’s Law.

Jeremy Hunt, health secretary, wants families to overcome the ‘fatal reluctance’ to talk about organ donation.

“Every day three people die for want of a transplant, which is why our historic plans to transform the way organ donation works are so important,” he said.

“We want as many people as possible to have their say as we shape the new opt-out process.

“But as well as changing the law, we also need to change the conversation – it can be a difficult subject to broach, but overcoming this fatal reluctance to talk openly about our wishes is key to saving many more lives in the future.”

Max’s brother Harry, a student at The Grange School, ran a 5km race to raise funds for The Sick Children’s Trust, which had been helping to look after Max.

Around 6,500 people are currently waiting for a transplant in the UK, but in the past year 1,100 families decided not to allow organ donation because they were unsure or did not know whether their relatives would have wanted to donate, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.

While 80 per cent of people say they would be willing to donate their organs, only 36 per cent are officially registered and just half of adults on the register have discussed their wishes with a family member, the Department for Health said.

The consultation, which is available online, will close on March 6, 2018.