For people with kidney failure, a transplant can come from either a living donor or a deceased donor.
In living donation, one healthy kidney is surgically removed from a donor and transplanted into the recipient. The donor can continue to live a healthy, normal life with their one remaining kidney.
Why are more living kidney donors needed?
Global studies show that a kidney transplant from a living donor is the best treatment option for those that are appropriate for transplant. However, there is a significant shortage of deceased donors, leading to lengthy wait times for many patients on the transplant list.
Most living donors know the recipient personally—often a partner, family member, or friend. This is known as directed donation.
Increasingly, individuals are stepping forward to donate a kidney to someone they do not know, known as altruistic or anonymous donation. Altruistic donors who participate in the National Kidney Sharing Scheme can initiate a chain of up to three transplants, helping multiple patients.
The National Kidney Sharing Scheme also allows for living donor-recipient pairs who are not directly compatible – different blood groups or tissue type – to be matched with living donors and recipients across the country. The surgery for these kidney exchanges all take place on the same day.
NHS Blood and Transplant - Who can be a living donor? (opens in a new tab)
Why choose a living donor transplant?
Research has shown that patient survival rates are significantly higher with a kidney from a living donor. At the 10-year mark, survival is approximately 90% for recipients of living donor transplants, compared to 75% for those who receive kidneys from deceased donors. Both options offer far better outcomes than not having a transplant.
Living kidney donor resources
Learn more about living kidney donation by visiting the NHS Organ Donation website (opens in a new tab).
The following resources offer detailed information to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have:
Interested in becoming a living kidney donor?
If after reading the resources listed above, you're considering donating a kidney to a loved one, friend, or stranger (through altruistic donation), please complete the Living Donor Health Questionnaire (opens in a new tab).
Approaching friends or family to consider living kidney donation
It can feel overwhelming to ask someone to do a significant favour for you, like donate a kidney.
Below are some points to consider:
- Be an advocate for yourself. Rather than asking for a kidney, start a conversation about living donation generally
- Spread awareness about kidney disease and your situation, this will likely spark a natural curiosity and interest that encourages people to want to help. For example:
‘You may not know this, but I am in kidney failure and hope to receive a kidney transplant. This is the only potential cure for my condition. It can sometimes take years before a suitable kidney is found from a deceased donor. But, I could receive a kidney from a generous living donor and this would happen much more quickly’
- Start with your inner circle, immediate family and close friends.
- Don’t be afraid to branch out – in the work place or by social media
- Speak to your loved ones and see if someone may be willing to help you talk to others about living kidney donation
We have a postcard available to download which you may find helpful in spreading the word. This could be left on the coffee table or shared on social media to spark interest.
Please get in touch with us for the downloadable version.
Contact us
Email the Cambridge Living Kidney Donor team
Address:
Living Donor Transplant Coordinators
Level 4, F&G block
Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Hills road
Cambridge
CB2 0QQ
Phone: 01223 596177