Gibraltar patient receives Kidney Transplant

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 Friday, January 11, 2019 - 11:09

The first Gibraltar based patient to receive a cadaveric renal transplant in the UK for over 15 years, has recently returned home to Gibraltar.

Renal transplantation is life changing for patients on dialysis. For most, transplantation dramatically improves, both, a patient’s quality of life and longevity. 

GHA Consultant Nephrologist and Physician, Dr Simon Lines said: “A lot of work goes into working patients up to ensure they are suitable to receive a kidney transplant. This involves a ‘Multi-Disciplinary Team’ approach and close and continued liaison with the Hammersmith Hospital, which is where our patients are listed. Once the patient receives a transplant call, a number of time critical protocols are followed to ensure the patient arrives at the tertiary centre within a suitable timeframe to receive the kidney. Due to the hard work and dedication of the Sponsored Patient team at the GHA, the patient actually arrived in London before the kidney did! I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly thank everyone involved in the process.”

The GHA’s Medical Director, Dr Daniel Cassaglia, commented: “I am very proud that via the close clinical links that we have forged with leading specialist centres in the United Kingdom and Spain, our patients can receive the most advanced treatments available. We continue to build these links, ensuring that our patients can receive an unprecedented number of specialist treatments both in Gibraltar and with our partners abroad.”

Minister for Health, Care and Justice, Neil F. Costa commended the efforts of those involved in the successful process, adding: “This is a wonderful example of dedicated professionals, both within the GHA and at specialist centres, working together for the good of our patients. I would like to sincerely thank Dr Lines and all those members of staff, such as our excellent Sponsored Patients Department, who, in one way or another, contributed to the treatment and seamless transfer of the patient.

"This is also a great example of the huge positive impact organ donations can have on people’s lives. To become an organ donor is a very personal choice, and I would urge anyone interested in doing so, or anyone who simply wishes to gather more information on this subject, to visit the NHS’s Organ Donation website.”

11-01-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR