Living Kidney Awareness Week 2019

Living kidney transplants have been performed in Scotland since 1960

Living kidney transplants have been performed in Scotland since 1960 and currently around 100 such operations are performed each year with a very high success rate.  Over 400 people in Scotland are currently waiting on a kidney transplant.

There are two routes to living kidney donation – directed donation where a friend, relative or partner donates to a loved one, or non-directed altruistic donation which involves a person donating to a stranger.

In March 2009, the first altruistic donor in Scotland gave a kidney to someone they did not know.  Since 2006, 78 people in Scotland have donated one of their kidneys to a stranger. 

A kidney from a living donor generally offers the best outcomes for patients living with kidney failure who need a transplant and a healthy person can lead a completely normal life with just one kidney.  One altruistic donor can start a ‘chain’ of transplants, meaning up to three people can receive a transplant as a result of that person’s gift.

View the living kidney donation animation.

Personal Living Kidney Donation Stories

Altruistic Donor – Grant Thomson

Living Kidney Recipient – Matthew Catlow