Northern Ireland

Record high number of healthy people donating kidneys for transplant surgery

To mark World Kidney Day, tributes have been paid to thousands of kidney donors in Northern Ireland
To mark World Kidney Day, tributes have been paid to thousands of kidney donors in Northern Ireland To mark World Kidney Day, tributes have been paid to thousands of kidney donors in Northern Ireland

MORE 2,000 "selfless" people have donated their kidneys for transplant operations in Northern Ireland over the past 50 years, it has emerged.

The north's most senior nurse, Charlotte McArdle, has paid tribute to those who have given the "gift of life" to mark World Kidney Day.

Professor McArdle noted the 661 living donors - healthy people who give one of their two kidneys - since the transplant programme began in 1969.

"We have the highest number of living kidney donors per head of population across the world. People donate kidneys for many reasons.

"Some give to someone they love and others give to complete strangers.

"Their selfless actions save so many lives and I am very touched by this," she said.

She also commended the Living Donor Transplant Team at Belfast City Hospital, describing them as "truly exceptional".

A total of 2,400 kidney transplants have been performed on patients - from toddlers as young as two-years-old to pensioners in their late 70s - over the past five decades.

"Belfast is now a world leader in living donation. Kidney Transplant Consultant Dr Aisling Courtney and her team have transformed the living donation programme in Belfast. This was recognised recently when she was awarded the first UK award for Excellence in Organ Donation and Transplantation. In addition, Dr Paul Glover was named Exceptional Clinical Lead for Organ Donation. Congratulations to everyone involved," Professor McArdle said.

"I would like to mark World Kidney Day by saying a huge thank you from the bottom of my heart to all those donors who have donated a kidney to others. This is the absolute greatest and kindest gift that anyone can give and can totally transform the lives of people needing a kidney transplant.  And I hope many more people join the organ donor register."

Last month BBC Northern Ireland presenter Stephen Watson revealed he needs a kidney transplant - almost 30 years after receiving one from his father.

The 47-year-old, who fronts much of the broadcaster's sports coverage, currently has dialysis sessions four times a week.

Mr Watson received a kidney from his father Cecil as a teenager but said he "always knew that it would need replaced". He also commended the team at the City hospital but appealed for more donors to come forward.

Dr Aisling Courtney, Kidney Transplant Consultant at Belfast City Hospital, said: "It is hard to overestimate the difference that having a transplant makes compared to being on dialysis therapy. It is transformational.

"Northern Ireland has made fantastic progress in living donation transplants over recent years, but there are still many people on dialysis across Northern Ireland waiting for a kidney transplant. I would encourage people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register, and talk to their family about their wishes. And of course, consider being a kidney donor now, when they are still alive and in good health."

Not everyone who is suitable to donate a kidney is a suitable 'match' for their friend/family member.

The UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme, identifies possible 'kidney-swaps' between such donor-recipient pairs allowing more people to benefit from living donor transplantation. In Belfast 89 transplants have taken place because of this kidney exchange scheme, more than any other transplant centre in the UK.

Further information about organ donation in the north is available at www.organdonationni.info  or www.donatelife.co.uk