pharmasites logo
We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. By clicking 'I Understand and Accept', you consent to our use of cookies.
I understand and accept
No, I don't want to use cookies
My Account
Control Panel
An example toast message
Do Something
Login
en
en
Pharmasites logo.
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Free Upgrade
What You Get
Pricing
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Do Something
Login
en
en
Pharmasites logo.
Menu
en
en
Change Language
Login
My Account
Control Panel
Free Upgrade
What You Get
Pricing
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Log Out
Login
Login
en
en
Waiting list

Ideally, a kidney transplant should be performed when tests show that the extent of damage to your kidneys means that you'll need dialysis within the next 6 months.

However, because of the lack of available kidneys, it's unlikely you'll receive a kidney donation at this time, unless a family member or friend who has a similar tissue type is willing to make a living donation.

Find out more about living donations on the NHS Blood and Transplant website

Most people with kidney failure need dialysis while they wait for a donated kidney to become available.

The average time a person spends on the waiting list for a kidney transplant is 2 to 3 years, although it can be shorter or longer than this.

How donations are allocated

Demand for donations from recently deceased people far outstrips supply, so there are strict but necessary guidelines about how donations are allocated.

Children and young adults are generally given priority if a matched donation becomes available, as they'll most likely gain a longer-term benefit from a transplant.

For older adults, a scoring system is used to determine who should get a donation. The score is based on factors such as how long you've been on the waiting list and how well matched the donor is in terms of tissue type, blood group and age.

You may have a longer wait for a kidney if you have high levels of antibodies in your blood that might make it harder for you to receive a transplant. This is called desensitisation and can happen after a blood transfusion, pregnancy or previous transplant.

Waiting for a transplant

If you're on the waiting list for a kidney, the transplant centre will need to contact you at short notice once a kidney becomes available, so you must inform staff if there are any changes to your contact details.

You should also inform staff if there are changes to your health – for example, if you develop an infection.

While waiting for a donated kidney to become available, it's important to stay as healthy as possible by:

Make sure you always have an overnight bag ready for when the call comes, and make arrangements with friends, family and work so you can go to the transplant centre as soon as a donor kidney becomes available.

Transplant centres

In England, there are 20 NHS specialist kidney transplant centres; 6 in London, and the rest in the following 14 cities:

  • Birmingham
  • Bristol
  • Cambridge
  • Coventry
  • Leeds
  • Leicester
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester
  • Newcastle
  • Nottingham
  • Oxford
  • Plymouth
  • Portsmouth
  • Sheffield

Find out more about kidney transplant units on the NHS Blood and Transplant website

Last Reviewed
07 September 2022
NHS websiteNHS website
Pharmasites footer logo.
Store Hours Unavailable
No store selected for opening hours
Loading Open Hours...
With over a decade's experience working with UK pharmacies and supplying software that manages over 1,500 UK pharmacy websites, you're in safe hands with Pharmasites. Get in touch today!
Menu
Home
Free Upgrade
Pricing
Referrer Rewards
About Us
Contact Us
Book a Chat
Features
Easy Website Updates
Interactive Maps
Book NHS & Private Services
Pharmacy First
eCommerce
Built-in NHS A-Z
NHS App Integration
See more features
Pharmasites
11 Anderson Way, Lea, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 5EF
matt@pharmasites.co.uk
01904 349 316
No store selected for contacts
No contacts at this store
Pharmasites © 2024
Cookies Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions