In less than 12 months time, on December 1, Wales will become the first home nation to introduce a soft “opt-out” legislation on organ donation.

As part of the ongoing ‘Time to Talk’ public communications campaign a new wave of Wales-wide TV, radio, outdoor and online advertising was launched on Monday, January 19, highlighting what the new legislation means.

In support of the mass media campaign, additional work is also being carried out to raise awareness and increase understanding of the organ donation choices available.

The work will seek to spread the message across a range of specific target audiences, including workplaces all over the country.

Wales’ largest building society, Principality, is one of the first organisations to sign up in support of the campaign and will be working with the Welsh Government to provide information to its 1,000 employees over the coming months.

The Welsh Government is looking to join forces with other large private, public and voluntary sector employers in Wales to make sure employees across the country are aware of the impending changes to the law.

These will include desk drops of information leaflets, display posters throughout offices, intranet information for all employees and information stands in communal areas.

Hannah Poulton, of the Principality Building Society, said, “As a proud Welsh business we take our responsibilities to our staff seriously.

“We are happy to support the Welsh Government’s Time to Talk campaign as the vast majority of our employees are Welsh residents, so being aware and informed of the forthcoming legislation on organ donation is very important.

“The workplace is where a lot of conversations take place and whatever their views, Principality employees need to be aware of the organ donation choices available to them before the law comes into force on December 1, 2015.”

From December 1, 2015, the choices will be:

To be a donor, an individual can:

•Register a decision to be a donor (opt in) or

•Choose to do nothing. If you do nothing, you will be treated as if you have no

objection to being an organ donor.

To not be a donor, an individual can:

•Register a decision not to be a donor (opt out)

Like the current system, anybody will be able to register a decision to donate all organs and tissues or to select specific organs or tissues. Until December 1, 2015, the current opt-in system will continue and the deemed consent will not apply.

More information can be found at organdonationwales.org.

Any organisation who would like to become involved in the Time to Talk campaign should send an email initially to organ.donation@wales.gsi.gov.uk.