Kidney donor shortage is a major worry - icWales

Kidney donor shortage is a major worry - icWales click

Kidney donor shortage is a major worry

Mar 13 2008 by Greg Tindle, South Wales Echo

A MASSIVE increase in the number of patients waiting for kidney transplants in Wales has been revealed today.

In just seven years the number of patients waiting for the operation has risen from 284 to 431 – and the reason is a desperate shortage of organs.

In Cardiff alone there are 181 people waiting for a transplant.

But Health Minister Edwina Hart today announced a grant of up to £100,000 for the Kidney Wales Foundation to help in a publicity drive to get more people to donate organs.

She made the pledge as she visited the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, to see plans for the new £4.2m transplant unit funded from the All-Wales capital programme, which will be open in two years.

“This will dramatically increase current renal transplant capacity and greatly improve the quality of life for renal patients,” she said.