A WOMAN who has spent three years waiting for a new kidney has welcomed a shake-up intended to spark a huge increase in organ donations.

Holly Shaw, 20, is backing a system of `presumed consent' - where doctors can assume organs will be used unless a person either opts out or their relatives object after their death.

Currently, organs are only taken if a dead person carried a donor card, or with the consent of their family. Gordon Brown has now signalled his support for the change - which Holly says could transform lives like hers.

She said: "For those who need heart or lung transplants it really is a matter of life or death."

More than 1,000 people die every year in Britain waiting for organ transplants.

Mr Brown is also likely to support moves to make sure every hospital has a specialist skilled in explaining to relatives why they should consent to donation.

Both recommendations will be made in a report published this week.

Holly, of Warrington, was diagnosed with renal failure after becoming sick three years ago. Since then she has been waiting for a kidney.

She is only allowed to drink 500ml of fluid a day, tires quickly and constantly feels sick. She has dialysis for three hours, three times a week - describing it as `a life saver but a life sentence'.

She told the M.E.N: "I would definitely welcome these changes.

"Ninety per cent of people agree with organ donation but only 20 per cent get round to doing anything about it. People tend not to want to think about it because they don't want to think about death. But on the other hand there are people who need organ donations." Her dad Alan said: "It would be a vast improvement.

"A transplant could give people like Holly a new lease of life.

"At the moment Holly gets very tired and has got no energy. With a transplant she could lead virtually a normal life."

Lynne Holt, from Transplant Sport UK, said that she hoped Mr Brown's words would encourage more people to sign up.

She said: "We know demand outweighs supply. Hopefully it will encourage families to discuss their wishes with their loved ones. That's the most important thing."