Kidney transplants for patients in the north-east of Scotland: the way forward
Information and consultation paper

Introduction

NHS Grampian wants to update patients, families, interest groups, and the wider public on the situation relating to the kidney transplant service which is offered to patients living in Grampian, Orkney and Shetland.

For reasons which are explained below, we need to consider how best this service can be provided in the future. We invite you to give your views on :

  • what you believe to be the best way forward?
  • whether you agree that NHS Grampian should discuss extending the current arrangement with the Edinburgh Transplant Unit?
  • any particular suggestions, views or concerns you may have?

We would like to include your views when the Grampian NHS Board discusses this issue at its meeting on 7 October.

What happens at present?

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) currently provides kidney transplant surgery, using organs from deceased donors. This service is provided for patients suffering kidney failure and who live in Grampian, Orkney and Shetland. The number of operations is now very few.

A number of Grampian and Island patients have their transplant surgery at the Edinburgh Transplant Unit. These are:

  • patients who are having a transplant from a living donor (such as a relative)
  • patients who are having a combined kidney and pancreas transplant
  • patients for whom a kidney becomes available at a time when the Aberdeen transplant surgeon is on holiday.

Following surgery, all these patients are then transferred back to Aberdeen for further care and follow-up treatment.

Why is the situation changing?

This autumn the transplant surgeon in Aberdeen will retire. We do not expect to be able to find a suitably-qualified replacement, and it would be even more difficult to put together a team to provide full cover. The number of transplant operations carried out at ARI has dropped dramatically to about 10 per year. This low number of operations makes it impossible for other surgeons at ARI to be able to develop and maintain the necessary skills for this specialised surgery.

This means that is will become unrealistic for us to continue to carry out this surgery at ARI.

We believe that the most practical way forward is to arrange for this service to be provided in another NHS Board area. We could do this by building on the relationship which we already have with the Edinburgh Transplant Unit.

What do we propose?

We propose that :

  • NHS Grampian enters into discussions with NHS Lothian on extending the already-established arrangement with the Edinburgh Transplant Unit to provide all kidney transplant operations for patients from Grampian, Orkney and Shetland.
  • The Aberdeen renal team works with patients, families, and other interested groups to design the future service, so that we best meet the needs of local patients, including practical arrangements and follow-up.

We would like to hear your views on this.

What do you think is the best way forward for NHS Grampian, so that a firstclass kidney transplant service continues to be available to patients from Grampian, Orkney and Shetland?

If you would like

  • more detailed information or to have any specific queries answered
  • to give us your views and suggestions

Please contact :

Shaunagh Kirby

Communications Manager

Corporate Communications

West Gate

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary

Foresterhill

Aberdeen AB25 2ZN

Tel 01224 558814

Email

We would be grateful to receive comments in writing (post or email) by Friday 26 September.

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