Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
10 March 2017 08:04
411 patients have died in the past year while waiting for an organ transplant
Waiting times for kidney transplant patients have fallen significantly, health officials have said.
According to NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), the amount of time people in desperate need of a new kidney spend on the transplant waiting list has dropped by 18%.
Between 2004 and 2008, patients were waiting an average of 1,153 days before receiving their new organ. Between 2009 and 2013, the figure fell to 944 days.
Kidney transplant patients can arrange medical travel insurance for added peace of mind when travelling abroad.
World Kidney Day
NHSBT released the figures ahead of this year's World Kidney Day, a global event to raise awareness to the importance of kidneys while also encouraging people to sign up as organ donors.
Some 256 patients died while waiting for a kidney, or a kidney and another organ, since World Kidney Day in March 2016.
And around 5,200 people remain on waiting lists for a kidney, or a kidney and another organ.
However, NHSBT says organ donors have reached their highest ever levels, with 23.53 million people signing up to the NHS Organ Donor Register.
"We're encouraged that the number of people becoming donors has helped reduce how long desperately ill people wait before they receive a kidney transplant," said Sally Johnson, NHS Blood and Transplant's director of organ donation and transplantation.
But experts are warning there is still a severe shortage of donated organs.
Ms Johnson added: "Two and a half years is far too long to wait for a kidney and far too many people die without ever receiving the transplant they need.
"Organ donation saves lives and we urge people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register and talk to their families about their decision."
21 September 2018
UK holidaymakers could be missing out on more than 60 direct flight routes thanks to Air Passenger Duty (APD), a report suggests.
[more...]
20 September 2018
Living in areas with high levels of air pollution could be linked to an increased risk of dementia, new research suggests.
19 September 2018
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are shelling out tens of thousands of pounds for care - and many are unable to cover the costs, a leading charity has warned.
18 September 2018
As much as £6 of every £10 spent on domestic flights in the UK goes on Air Passenger Duty (APD), new research suggests.
15 September 2018
UK driving licences might become invalid in certain European countries if the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal, the Government has warned.
14 September 2018
Online crowdfunding for cancer treatments is indirectly advancing the rise of alternative "quack" therapies, experts have warned.
13 September 2018
A "wee-stick" like those used in pregnancy testing could be employed to prevent thousands of deaths from ovarian cancer.
11 September 2018
As many as 1.3 million passengers endured severe flight delays in the last year, a new study reveals.
08 September 2018
British Airways customers are cancelling their credit cards after the carrier was hit by a 15-day data breach that compromised the details of around 380,000 people.
06 September 2018
Plastic trays at security desks harbour the highest numbers of viruses at airports, new research has discovered.
05 September 2018
Adults are being urged to take advantage of a new online tool to find out if they are at risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
04 September 2018
Child cancer patients regularly have to travel twice as far and pay out twice as much when getting treatment, new data shows.