Kidney Transplants Suspended and Donations Turned Down Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The pandemic has taken a great toll on COVID-19 patients, their families and healthcare workers. 

But, patients suffering from conditions other than COVID-19 have also faced potentially serious consequences of the pandemic, like life-saving surgeries and procedures being canceled, including kidney transplants.

Kidney Transplants Suspended

The Belfast Trust in Northern Ireland suspended kidney transplant operations in November, citing the extra pressure COVID-19 has put on the trust, the BBC reported.

According to the trust, the suspension affected 61 patients.

However, Northern Ireland continued kidney transplants after renal transplant centres in other areas of the U.K. were shut down due to coronavirus.

At the beginning of the suspension, the restrictions meant only patients for whom it was difficult to find a match would be able to get a transplant, and only if a kidney from a deceased donor became available, as the live donor program was suspended, the BBC reported.

Recently, deceased donors’ organs are reportedly going unused because of the pandemic.

Kidney Donations Turned Down Amid Pandemic 

Before the suspension, Northern Ireland was reportedly performing record numbers of surgeries.

A record number of more than 150 successful kidney transplants were completed last year, with more than 100 being done during the pandemic.

And in the course of performing those surgeries, Northern Ireland hit the U.K. record of five within 24 hours.

Most of these transplants used kidneys from deceased donors, as the live donor program was suspended during the initial lockdown.

However, the kidneys from deceased donors are now being turned down, according to a BBC report.

The demand for intensive care at Belfast City Hospital has left no facilities available for kidney transplants.

Dr. Michael McBride, Northern Ireland’s chief medical officer, extended apologies and said the pressures faced by the trust mean “difficult decisions have had to be made,” according to the BBC.

He added the deceased kidney donor programme would go on, but not the programme for live donors, and said the decision would remain under review.

Kidney patients are being monitored to help ensure their condition does not deteriorate as they await their transplants.

Some politicians have spoken out about the transplant issue.

Democratic Unionist Party MP Ian Paisley spoke about it this week in the House of Commons, saying 24 patients in Northern Ireland had been denied a kidney transplant since October, the BBC reported.

“How can this house persuade the health authorities to recommence kidney donor transplant operations to utilise public and private and unused operating theatre space, and stop a scandal of discarding viable transplant organs from developing?” he asked.

The Belfast Trust released a statement saying it would continue carrying out kidney transplants for patients who are difficult to match.

According to the BBC, discussions have begun around how to begin the transplant programme once again, potentially outside the Belfast Health Trust area.

Some Kidney Transplant Luck In Wales

One woman in Wales whose kidney transplant was delayed twice because of the pandemic has finally received her brother’s kidney, according to the BBC.

Mali Elwy, 19, had cancer as a child, which left her with kidney failure.

Her surgeries scheduled for August and October both were cancelled, but the transplant finally proceeded in December.

The siblings are now reportedly recovering at home.

“We’re both recovering really well,” she told the BBC. “I’m feeling so much better than I was before the operation.”

“It’s the best Christmas present I’ve ever had,” she added. “I’m so, so lucky, so thankful to him. He’s changed my life.”

Other Procedures On Hold

Kidney transplants have not been the only procedure affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Cancer treatments have also been put on hold, potentially leading to thousands more deaths.

Research revealed in July by DATA-CAN, the Health Care Research Hub (HDR UK) for Cancer, indicated 7,000 to 35,000 more people would die within a year due to delays in the screenings and treatments for cancer.

The National Health Service (NHS) England told the BBC in the late fall it was trying to restore services; the NHS reported April saw a 60% drop in people visiting their general practitioner and getting referrals for tests.

More than 100 cancer surgeries have been cancelled in the Belfast Health Trust due to a growing number of COVID-19 admissions. The trust has cancelled the surgeries in order to expand intensive care unit teams for COVID-19 patients.

The rising number of COVID-19 patients visiting emergency rooms also led the Bristol Royal Infirmary to cancel most planned procedures. However, in that case, most of the cancelled surgeries were elective, with procedures such as cancer surgeries moving forward.

Have you had a procedure delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.

Check back daily for the most recent U.K. class action lawsuit and consumer protection news.

Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:

• Cancer Procedures Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Cause Major Concerns
• Legal Action Threatened Over Children’s Lack of Access To Necessary Technology for Remote Learning
• UK’s Top Court Green Lights £14B Mastercard Class Action
• ICO Fines Company £250,000 Over Nuisance Calls