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WITH kidney transplants dropping by a third during the pandemic, people are being urged to consider living kidney donation.
NHS Blood and Transplant says kidney transplant activity is recovering, but 4,600 patients – 97 of them in Leicestershire – are waiting and could wait longer.
With this figure expected to rise, the service is calling on everyone in Leicestershire to share their organ donation decision and also take a moment to consider living kidney donation.
Kidney transplants have been the hardest-hit area of organ transplantation throughout the pandemic, with deceased donor transplants down 22 per cent and living donor transplants down 60 per cent.
There was an overall drop in kidney transplants of 32 per cent in 2020/21, compared with 2019/2020.
This means some
1,100 fewer patients received a kidney transplant in 2020/21.
In living donor transplantation, 422 patients benefited instead of the usual
1,000 and there were 500 fewer deceased donor transplants.
Living donor transplantation opens up opportunities for patients waiting for a kidney transplant by minimising the time people need to rely on dialysis and by offering patients who wait the longest, the chance of a successful transplant.
People can donate a kidney in life
Kidney transplants have been the hardesthit area of organ transplantation throughout the pandemic
to a relative or friend, or donate anonymously, where their kidney will either go to a high priority patient on the transplant list or create a chain of transplants via the UK living kidney sharing scheme.
An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesman said: “Living donation is not for everyone and some people are not suitable donors, so the majority of kidney patients will still be saved by a deceased organ donor. It is more important than ever to tell your family about your organ donation decision to help those on the waiting list.
“Even though the law around organ donation has now changed to an opt-out system, many people are still not aware that families will still always be consulted before organ donation goes ahead.”
Anthony Clarkson, director of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We’re pleased that transplant activity is now recovering
and we’re doing everything we can to enable as many transplants as possible to take place as quickly as possible.
“Sadly, patients are facing a longer wait and more people need a kidney transplant, so it is more important than ever for people in Leicestershire to share their organ donation decision with their family to help others after their death.
“And if anyone in Leicestershire is willing to consider living kidney donation, they can find out more on our website.”