Health trust appeals for living kidney donors
Patients awaiting a transplant currently have dialysis three times a week, Bradford medics say
- Published
Medics in Bradford are urging more people in the city to consider donating a kidney.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has launched a new website to encourage donors, especially those from ethnically diverse communities.
The trust said more than a third of those waiting for a transplant in the city were from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Renal specialty lead Dr John Stoves said transplant patients often faced a "long wait" for an organ.
'Gruelling' dialysis
The trust's Live Kidney Donor website offers information for potential donors, as well as testimonials from people who have been through the process.
Living Donor Coordinator Michael Speight, who is based at St Luke’s Hospital, said: "We are passionate about helping patients who are waiting for a transplant due to kidney disease as they currently have dialysis three times a week which is gruelling and affects all aspects of their and their families’ lives.
“Most of us can live with one kidney, so if you are interested in doing something altruistic, please contact us to discuss the scheme.
"Kidney disease can affect anyone, so this website is for everyone who may be intrigued about helping others less fortunate than themselves.”
Living Donor Coordinator Michael Speight says the trust is "passionate" about helping patients waiting for a transplant
Dr Stoves added: “People from black and Asian communities are more likely to have medical conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, which can lead to the development of kidney disease and the need for kidney transplantation.
“The best match for kidney transplantation is often from a donor with the same ethnic background."
In Bradford, there were 75 people on the transplant waiting list as of 5 January, 68 of whom were waiting for a kidney, according to NHS Blood and Transplant.
Across the UK, a total of 5,684 people were waiting for a kidney transplant.
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