All transplant centres in London have now resumed kidney transplants from living donors.

The NHS in London has been working in partnership with independent hospitals in the capital to make it safe for patients to undergo kidney transplant operations.

During the peak of the pandemic, transplant patients were particularly vulnerable to contracting coronavirus because medication necessary to help the body accept a new organ can suppress the immune system. In most parts of the UK, the NHS restricted kidney transplant operations except in the most urgent of cases.

It is possible to donate a kidney while alive because we only need one kidney to survive. This is known as a living donor.

The NHS in London has been working with the independent sector to ensure that living donor kidney transplants can be carried out safely across the capital. NHS Trusts including Guy’s and St Thomas’, Imperial College, Royal Free, Barts Health, St George’s and Great Ormond Street are developing new measures to provide Covid-protected clinical settings for NHS staff to perform transplant operations safely at their NHS sites.

Kidney recipients and donors having their operations performed at independent hospitals, including London Bridge and the London Clinic, will continue to be cared for by the same NHS team, including surgeon, nurses and anaesthetist, throughout their pre-operation consultations, surgery and aftercare.

To reduce risk, all recipients and donors will be screened and tested for coronavirus ahead of surgery having isolated for at least two weeks beforehand. As many outpatient appointments as possible will be conducted remotely to further protect patients from the risk of infection.

Dr Simon Barton, Medical Director for NHS Commissioning in London said:

“Clinicians across the capital have taken the carefully balanced decision to resume living donor kidney transplants, prioritising safety and the need to improve the quality of life for people who urgently need a new kidney.”

Professor John Forsythe, Medical Director for Transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said:

“The restart of this important service is down to great teamwork across Clinicians and Managers in NHS London. We also know that Donor and Recipient pairs really appreciate the new ways of working to allow their operations to go ahead. We at NHS Blood and Transplant have supported the teams wherever we can and we now send best wishes to the patients and their donors.”

Find out more about becoming a living kidney donor at www.organdonation.nhs.uk/become-a-living-donor/