Lord Ara Darzi, the former health minister, independent peer, and surgeon who recently led an independent investigation into the performance of the NHS, has become the Patron of the Robert Dangoor Partnership for Living Kidney Donation. Lord Darzi will be supporting this partnership between two national kidney charities in an urgent bid to raise awareness of living kidney donation and the ongoing need for more people to consider donating.
In the UK, more than 6,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Despite ongoing work to encourage more people to consider becoming a living kidney donor around six people die every week whilst waiting for a transplant.
The Robert Dangoor Partnership, run by the UK charities Kidney Research UK and Give a Kidney, provides information and specialist help to anyone considering becoming a donor. The two charities are working together with support from NHS Blood and Transplant and a full panel of specialist clinical and surgical advisors.
By announcing his patronage for the Robert Dangoor Partnership, Lord Darzi hopes to raise much-needed awareness of the benefits of living kidney donation and the support available to anyone interested in learning more.
A report released by Kidney Research UK in 2023 warned that cases of kidney disease and kidney failure were growing so rapidly that the NHS could be overwhelmed in just ten years’ time. The report also revealed that increasing the numbers of transplants from living kidney donors would not only save lives but also save the NHS money compared to expensive and life-limiting dialysis treatment needed for kidney patients.
On assuming his new position, Lord Darzi said: “I, like anyone who has worked in the NHS, know that the system is currently under immense pressure. The incredible act of donating a kidney helps to significantly improve the lives of people with debilitating kidney disease, while also helping to ease the burden of kidney disease being felt by the NHS.
“As Patron, I am looking forward to helping the partnership raise greater awareness of living kidney donation and promote the support they can offer anyone who is considering if they could donate.”
David Dangoor CBE, the founder of the partnership, said: “I have firsthand experience of how life-changing the gift of living kidney donation can be. My brother Robert suffered from kidney disease and, five years ago, I had the privilege of donating a kidney to him. Having Lord Darzi as our Patron will help us achieve our goal – to reduce the number of people waiting for a kidney, to save lives, and to enhance the wellbeing of countless individuals. Our ultimate vision is a world where no one dies waiting for a kidney.”
