New research highlights likelihood of people considering becoming a living donor

The impact of living kidney donation on those living with kidney failure has been highlighted as part of a new drive.

With over 400 people in Scotland waiting on a kidney transplant, NHS Forth Valley today emphasised how living kidney donation plays a vital role in increasing donation and transplantation rates, with a kidney from a living donor generally offering the best outcomes.

New research released shows that four out of five people (80 per cent) in Scotland would be likely to consider donating a kidney whilst alive to a family member, with almost half (48 per cent) stating they’d be likely to consider donating to a friend, and 13 per cent saying they’d consider donating to someone they didn’t know.

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.

Over the last 60 years, 1,500 people in Scotland have helped others by donating a kidney, with over 100 people making the decision to donate one of their kidneys altruistically since 2009.

Allan Rennie, Chair of NHS Forth Valley’s Organ Donation Committee, said:

“Through raising awareness that living kidney donation is an option, the hope is that more patients living with kidney failure can avoid or reduce the time they have to spend on dialysis and have a better quality of life.

“A healthy person can lead a completely normal life with one kidney, and anyone can volunteer to find out more about donating, but it must be something they choose to do and feel comfortable doing.”

Jen Lumsdaine, Lead Nurse, Living Donation Scotland added:

“Living donation is an exceptional gift, and although Scotland has an opt out system of deceased organ and tissue donation, living kidney donation continues to play a vital part in improving transplant numbers, so more lives can be saved and transformed.”

For more information visit www.livingdonation.scot