Transplant Unit

Depending on your medical condition, you will either wait for your new liver in hospital or at home. Donor livers are matched to recipients according to blood group, height and weight, and the severity of your disease.

It is impossible to accurately predict how long you will have to wait - some people are transplanted within a matter of days and others may have to wait for a few months. The waiting period is a difficult time for you and your family, and this is something that all the staff recognise. If you feel unwell or have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Transplant Co-ordinator on (01223) 216672 or alternatively ring ward C9 - the transplant ward on (01223) 217306. Whilst you are on the waiting list you will be seen regularly in clinic so that your condition can be reviewed.

If you are waiting at home, you will be given a pager before you leave hospital. This will ensure that you will be contactable at all times, should a liver become available. It is very important to take the pager with you each time you leave home. If you change your home telephone number or go away for a few days, please ensure that you give the Transplant Co-ordinator a contact number.

How much notice will I be given of my transplant?

You may be given very little notice so it is advisable to always have a bag packed and arrangements made for your transport to Addenbrooke’s. The transplant co-ordinator will contact you by telephone or via your pager. If your pager goes off ,you should contact the Addenbrooke’s switchboard on (01223) 245151, give your name, and explain that you are on the liver transplant waiting list. The on call co-ordinator will then get in touch with you and let you know what you should do. You will normally be asked to go straight to the hospital. At this stage, the donor liver may not have been seen, so there is no guarantee that the new liver will be suitable to be transplanted. Unfortunately, if the liver is found to be unsuitable you will need to return home and wait until another suitable liver is offered.