Organ donation is a selfless act that provides a second chance at life for many individuals with organ failure. A small specialist team of transplant coordinators at our hospital supports donor families, recipients, and those awaiting an organ. They also play a crucial role in educating the public and raising awareness of organ donation, encouraging more people to consider becoming donors.
Kidney donation is a profound act of generosity that can save or significantly improve the life of someone with end-stage kidney disease. There are two main types: living donation and deceased donation.
Living kidney donation occurs when a healthy person donates one of their kidneys to a recipient. This is often an option when a family member, friend, or even an altruistic stranger chooses to donate. Benefits of living donation include better long-term outcomes for the recipient, shorter waiting times, and the ability to schedule surgery at a convenient time for both the donor and recipient.
Types of living donation
- Directed Donation: The donor designates a specific recipient, often a family member or friend.
- Non-Directed (Altruistic) Donation: The donor donates a kidney to someone they don’t know. This can initiate a “paired exchange” or “kidney chain” where multiple incompatible pairs can receive compatible kidneys.
- Paired Kidney Donation: This occurs when a donor and recipient are incompatible, but they are matched with another incompatible donor-recipient pair. The donors “swap” kidneys, ensuring both recipients receive a compatible transplant.
Becoming a living donor
- Potential living donors undergo a comprehensive evaluation to ensure they are healthy enough to donate and that there are no medical risks to themselves or the recipient. This involves medical tests, psychological evaluations, and discussions about the risks and benefits.
- We also offer virtual educational sessions for potential living donors. Please contact our live donor team directly to find out more about these sessions and how they can help you or someone you know explore this life-changing gift.
- For all live donor enquiries, we ask that the interested potential donor make contact with the kidney live donor coordinator on 07879418287 or 0116 258 4736.
- A useful resource for both transplant recipients and potential live kidney donors.
Support for living donors
- The UK Living Kidney Donation Buddy Support Service is available pre and post live donation. This service helps potential and actual living donors connect with others who have gone through the donation process.
- Aftercare following an operation to donate your kidney is crucial for recovery.