What is living kidney donation?
Living kidney donation is when you choose to give one of your healthy kidneys to someone in need of a transplant. This could be a friend or family member, or someone you do not know.
A kidney transplant can transform the life of someone with kidney disease.
Did you know?
Patients who receive a kidney from a living donor most often have better outcomes and survive longer than those who receive kidneys from donors who have died.
More than 5,500 people are waiting for a kidney transplant in the UK, including more than 200 children.
Living kidney donors make 1 in 3 kidney transplants possible in the UK, helping to bring hope to the thousands of people in need.
As well as providing better patient outcomes than donation after death on average, living kidney donation allows the transplant operation to be planned at a time that is convenient for everyone involved.
You can volunteer to donate a kidney to someone you know, such as a family member, partner or good friend in need of a transplant. This is known as directed donation.
However, if you do not know anyone with kidney disease, you can also choose to donate to help someone on the national transplant list. This is known as non-directed altruistic donation.
Get more information about donating to someone you don't know
Did you know?
More than 1,000 people have donated a kidney during their lifetime to someone they don’t know on the transplant list. Many more have donated to a family member or friend.
Become a living kidney donor
Help promote living donation
Order or download a range of materials, including faith-specific leaflets.
Can’t find what you’re looking for?
For general enquiries
Email: enquiries@nhsbt.nhs.uk
Or call: 0300 123 23 23