Most Scots willing to offer a kidney to family member

NHS Highland is highlighting the important position of dwelling kidney donation after new analysis reveals most individuals could be keen to assist a liked one.

There are greater than 400 individuals in Scotland ready on a kidney transplant, with a kidney from a dwelling donor usually providing the very best outcomes.

The native well being authority this week emphasised how dwelling kidney donation performs an important position in rising donation and transplantation charges.

New analysis from YouGov reveals that 4 out of 5 individuals (80 per cent) in Scotland could be more likely to think about donating a kidney while alive to a member of the family, with nearly half (48 per cent) stating they might be more likely to think about donating to a good friend, and 13 per cent saying they might think about donating to somebody they didn’t know.

There are two routes to dwelling kidney donation – directed donation the place a good friend, relative or companion donates to a liked one, or non-directed altruistic donation which entails an individual donating to a stranger.

During the last 60 years, 1500 individuals in Scotland have helped others by donating a kidney, with over 100 individuals making the choice to donate considered one of their kidneys altruistically since 2009.

Dr Stewart Lambie, renal guide at NHS Highland mentioned: “By elevating consciousness that dwelling kidney donation is an possibility, the hope is that extra sufferers dwelling with kidney failure can keep away from or scale back the time they should spend on dialysis and have a greater high quality of life.

“A wholesome individual can lead a very regular life with one kidney, and anybody can volunteer to search out out extra about donating, however it have to be one thing they select to do and really feel snug doing.”

Jen Lumsdaine, lead nurse for Residing Donation Scotland, added: “Residing donation is an distinctive reward, and though Scotland has an decide out system of deceased organ and tissue donation, dwelling kidney donation continues to play an important half in enhancing transplant numbers, so extra lives will be saved and reworked.”

For extra data go to livingdonation.scot

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