A healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor is placed into your body during an operation.
Learn moreA kidney transplant involves placing a healthy kidney from a donor into your body to take over the work of your failing kidneys. The transplanted kidney filters your blood, removes waste and excess fluid, and helps maintain your body’s normal functions.
A transplant is only possible after a detailed assessment. A suitable donor kidney is needed, either from a living or deceased donor, and waiting times can vary.
A donated kidney may come from a living person or from a person who has died. The transplant team carefully assesses the donor kidney and the person receiving it.
A healthy adult may freely offer to donate one kidney. The donor is assessed separately to protect their health.
A kidney may be donated after a person has died, with consent and according to the transplant programme.
The exact pathway differs for each person, but it usually has four parts.
The transplant team checks whether surgery and long-term treatment are suitable for you.
A living donor may be assessed, or you may be considered for a kidney from a deceased donor.
The donated kidney is placed in the lower abdomen and connected to your blood vessels and bladder.
Regular blood tests and anti-rejection medicines help the team care for the transplanted kidney.
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The kidney care team reviews your overall health, other medical conditions, medicines, infections, and ability to manage surgery and long-term anti-rejection treatment. Tests are arranged before a decision is made.
A healthy adult may freely offer to be assessed as a living donor. The donor is assessed separately and confidentially to protect their health. Offering to be assessed does not guarantee that donation will be possible.
Waiting time cannot be predicted. It depends on donor availability, blood group, matching, allocation criteria, and the local transplant programme. The kidney care team will explain how the waiting process works.
They can hear the same explanation, remember important details, and understand the plan with you.
