Kidney Transplants

A kidney transplant can be a life-changing treatment for people with kidney failure. While dialysis helps to keep you well, a successful kidney transplant can restore much of your health, independence, and quality of life.

This page provides a brief introduction to kidney transplantation. If you are being considered for a transplant, your consultant and the specialist nurses will provide more detailed information tailored to your circumstances.

Am I Suitable for a Kidney Transplant?

Risks and Benefits

Your renal team will discuss transplantation with you and assess whether it is the right treatment option. If suitable, the kidney transplant would happen at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh as the main transplant centre for the east of Scotland.

For most people with kidney failure, a kidney transplant is the preferred long-term treatment. However, some patients, particularly those with significant additional health conditions, may be better suited to ongoing dialysis.

If transplantation is considered appropriate you will undergo a series of assessments and tests which may include:

  • Blood tests
  • ECG
  • Echocardiogram
  • X-ray
  • Heart and general health assessments
  • Additional scans and referrals to other specialities depending on your past medical history

Once these investigations are complete, you will be referred for further evaluation to the Edinburgh Transplant Assessment team who attend ARI for monthly clinics. At this stage, you will receive detailed information about the transplant procedure, its benefits, and any associated risks. Some potential benefits and risks are detailed below but these will be discussed more in depth at the transplant assessment clinic.

Benefits of Kidney Transplantation:

  • Increased energy levels and improved wellbeing.
  • Greater freedom and independence without the need for regular dialysis treatments.
  • Improved ability to work, study, travel, and participate in social activities.
  • Fewer dietary and fluid restrictions than those required on dialysis.
  • Better long-term health and life expectancy for most patients with kidney failure.
  • The opportunity to return to a more normal lifestyle.

Risks of Kidney Transplantation may include:

  • Bleeding requiring blood transfusion or further surgery.
  • Infection.
  • Blood clots.
  • Pain and discomfort following surgery.
  • Delayed function of the transplanted kidney.
  • Rejection
  • Side effects of transplant medications

Where Does a Donor Kidney Come From?

Deceased and Living Donation

Most kidney transplants are from deceased donors. These are individuals who have died in hospital and whose families have supported organ donation.

However, the best long-term transplant outcomes are often achieved with kidneys donated by living donors. We call this the ‘gold standard’ of patient care. A living donor may be:

  • A close family member
  • A partner
  • A close friend
  • Or even someone who has decided they would like to donate to a stranger (altruistic)

Living donor transplantation has several advantages. The operation can be planned in advance, waiting times are often shorter, and the donor kidney has been thoroughly assessed to ensure it, and the donor are healthy enough to donate. If you have a friend or family member who would like to be considered as a living donor for you, or you would like to donate a kidney altruistically (non-directed to any specific person) please fill out a Health Check Questionnaire (pdf) and send it to or mail the completed form to the below contact details.

If you are considered suitable to continue with the living donor assessment process, you will be invited to attend for some initial blood tests and an appointment with our Living Donor Nurse Specialist. They will explain the donation process, answer any questions you may have, and guide you through the next stages of the living donor pathway.

Telephone 01224 559497
Email: gram.livedonation@nhs.scot 

Address:

Living Donor Nurse Specialist
Nephrology
Clinic G
Purple Zone
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Forresterhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN

What Does the Operation Involve?

When a kidney becomes available, the transplant team will call to inform you of this and will ask you to make your way down to Edinburgh. Please be aware that you may need help from friends and family members to provide you will transport.

During the transplant operation, the donated kidney is usually placed in the lower abdomen (groin area) beneath the skin and muscle. Your own kidneys are usually left in place unless there is a specific medical reason to remove them.

After surgery, it is normal to feel tired or groggy for a few days. Most patients are up and walking within a short time and can usually return home within 7-10 days although the hospital stay may be longer or shorter depending on recovery. In most cases there will be no need to be transferred to the renal ward in ARI and you will be able to go straight home from Edinburgh. This includes people from the Orkney and Shetland Islands.

The transplant nurses in Aberdeen will explain the follow up process in detail but please be prepared to attend the renal unit in Aberdeen 2-3 times per week for the first 6 weeks, including the transplant clinic on a Tuesday, until your kidney function starts to stabilise.

How Long Will I Have to Wait?

Unfortunately, the number of people needing a kidney transplant is much greater than the number of kidneys available.

Waiting times vary considerably and can range from a few months to several years. The length of time you wait depends on factors such as:

  • Your blood group
  • Tissue type
  • Availability of a suitable donor kidney

It is important to understand that transplantation is not simply a waiting list or queue. A kidney must be a suitable match for the recipient, so timing is influenced by both compatibility and donor availability.

Where possible, we strongly recommend exploring the option of living kidney donation. A kidney from a living donor can significantly reduce waiting times for transplantation and often provides better long-term results than a deceased donor transplant. Many patients wait several years for a suitable deceased donor kidney, whereas a living donor transplant can be planned in advance. We encourage you to discuss living donation with family members, partners, and close friends, as they may wish to consider being assessed as a potential donor. All assessments are carried out confidentially, and any decision regarding donation is entirely voluntary.

Our REACH (Renal Education and Choices at Home) nurse will arrange a time to visit your house to chat with family and friends about donation. This visit is not an attempt to recruit donors but gives the opportunity for the nurse to discuss all the aspects of donation with your friends and family for you, so that they have the opportunity to ask questions and make the informed decision to donate to you if they so wish.

What Medication Will I Need After a Transplant?

Following a kidney transplant, you will need to take immunosuppressant (anti-rejection) medications. These medicines prevent your immune system from attacking the transplanted kidney.

Your treatment will be tailored to your individual needs, but most patients will need to take at least one anti-rejection medication every day for as long as their transplant is functioning. These medications include:

  • Steroids
  • Tacrolimus or Cyclosporin
  • MMF (mycophenolate mofetil)

It is essential that these medications are taken exactly as prescribed to help protect the transplanted kidney and maintain its function.

Further Information and Contact Details

If you would like more information about kidney transplantation, please speak to your renal team or transplant coordinator. They can provide detailed information about:

  • The assessment process
  • Living and deceased donor transplantation
  • Risks and benefits of transplantation
  • Recovery after surgery
  • Long-term care following a transplant

Your transplant team is the best source of advice and support throughout your transplant journey. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the transplant nurses on the below details who available Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.

Telephone: 01224 559497
email: gram.akcandtransplant@nhs.scot 

Renal Transplant Specialist Nurses
Nephrology,
Clinic G,
Purple Zone
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
Forresterhill Road
Aberdeen
AB25 2ZN

Resources for Support

 

Published: 14/10/2026 14:06