About the South West Transplant Centre (SWTC)
Welcome to the South West Transplant Centre (SWTC). The SWTC is based at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and provides the kidney transplantation service for the South West peninsula. We also supervise the work up and follow up of patients undergoing pancreas transplantation. How to get to the South West Transplant Centre
The first kidney transplant at Derriford Hospital was performed in 1977. Our service has grown steadily since that time and has transplanted over 1400 patients. We take referrals from the renal teams at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in Devon, and from Derriford Hospital. We perform between 50 and 60 kidney transplants each year. Renal transplantation is the optimal treatment for many patients with severe kidney disease, and we seek to provide a service that reviews and treats patients in a timely and supportive manner.
Patients with kidney disease may receive kidney transplants from patients who have donated organs after their own death. This is coordinated using a national kidney transplant waiting list. The SWTC was one of the first centres in the UK to develop a programme to receive the kidneys of patients who had died from cardiac arrests. Unfortunately, patients typically have to wait a number of years to receive an organ through the national waiting list.
Therefore, wherever possible, we enable patients to receive kidney transplants from living kidney donors. There are advantages to this form of transplantation, and the donors need not necessarily be genetically related to the recipient. Our centre is in active in the national Kidney Sharing Scheme. The scheme allows donor and recipient pairs who are not directly compatible to find matches. We are also enrolled in research studies that support living kidney donation. The SWTC also supports altruistic kidney donors seeking to help patients with kidney disease.
Our transplant team is led by a consultant nephrologist (Dr Andy Connor), a consultant surgeon (Mr Adi Kanwar) and a nurse consultant (Leanne Stannard). The wider team includes 8 consultant nephrologists, 4 consultant transplant surgeons, 8 specialist nurses, an assistant practitioner, a pharmacist, a psychologist and an administration team.
Our aim is to ensure that every patient in the South West who might benefit from kidney transplantation is considered and that transplantation is offered to all of those for whom it would be an appropriate and beneficial treatment. We seek to provide a holistic service that recognises the emotional and physical burden that kidney disease and transplantation can place on patients and we endeavour to support all our patients through the processes of transplantation work up, surgery and longer-term follow up.
Derriford Hospital is a teaching hospital, and we aim to provide support and education to all of the staff and our patients. These webpages provide information about transplantation, organ donation and follow up.
How to get to the South West Transplant Centre
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford Road, Crownhill, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH
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Sat nav: Enter postcode for the hospital 'PL6 8DH'
Where to stay in Plymouth
There are plenty of hotels and B&Bs located within the city of Plymouth and surrounding areas.
Hearts Together Hospital Hotel provides guest accommodation for relatives, friends and carers of patients undergoing treatment in Derriford Hospital. Rooms are also available for anyone who may need to visit the hospital themselves either as an outpatient or before or after treatment and for healthcare professionals or trainees.
