A new NHS report reveals that the UK organ transplant waiting list has hit a new high, and that the number of people waiting for a kidney transplant continues to go up. But, at the same time, the number of kidney transplant operations taking place is going down compared to the previous year.
The latest figures from NHS Blood and Transplant’s annual transplant activity report (covering April 2025-April 2026) shows that there are now 7,203 people (including 138 children) waiting for a life-changing kidney transplant. That’s 264 more than in 2024/25.
The report also found that 328 people died last year while on the waiting list for a new kidney, and the average amount of time people wait before they have a kidney transplant has now gone up by more than a month – from 503 days to 547 days. Meanwhile, the number of kidney transplants continues to fall – with 27 fewer transplants last year than in 2024/25 (from 3,305 transplants to 3,278).
However, the report also reveals the difference that a living kidney donation can make to those on the waiting list. Nearly 1,000 kidney transplants (984) were made possible last year because of living donors – up 2% on the previous year – and 58 operations were thanks to people who donated to a stranger.
If more people participated in living kidney donations, the waiting list for transplants would shrink. Many more people with kidney disease could come off (or avoid) years of difficult dialysis and regain their health and independence. Learn more about living kidney donation and the benefit it can offer people on the kidney waiting list by looking through our website and discover the support available for anyone considering donating themselves.
