What is paired and pooled kidney donation?

Paired or pooled kidney donation is a way to help someone receive a kidney when their intended donor is not a medical match with them. Instead of donating directly to their loved one, a donor gives a kidney to another patient in the pooled sharing system. In return, their loved one receives a compatible kidney from a different donor who is also part of the programme.

This creates a safe and fair exchange that helps more people receive living donor kidneys. Paired and pooled donations are managed through the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme and is designed so that no one donates without their loved one also receiving a kidney.

Sometimes three pairs are linked. This can form a pool, where several donors give to people in different pairs, making the most of the sharing system and helping even more people get a transplant. All operations are planned to take place at the same time so that every person involved is protected and treated fairly.

What Is pooled kidney donation?

Pooled kidney donation is closely linked to paired kidney donation and uses the same UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme. The main difference is that pooled donation involves three donor and recipient pairs, rather than just two.

All incompatible donor-recipient pairs are placed into the sharing system. The matching system looks at everyone in the pool and creates the combinations that helps the greatest number of people receive a transplant.

The same rules apply to pooled donations as with paired donations. Every donor only goes ahead if their intended recipient also receives a kidney. All surgeries are carefully planned and coordinated by NHS teams to ensure fairness, safety, and support for everyone involved.

Much of what applies to paired kidney donation also applies to pooled donation. Both are designed to increase transplant opportunities and help more people benefit from living kidney donation through the pooled sharing system.

Benefits of paired donation and pooled donation

Paired kidney donation offers a few important benefits for both donors and recipients. It increases the chances of finding a compatible match when direct donation isn’t possible. This can be especially helpful when blood groups or tissue types are not compatible between the original donor and recipient.

The programme can also reduce kidney transplant waiting times. People who may have struggled to find a suitable kidney may have a greater chance of finding a match because of the pooled sharing system. Living donor kidneys often last longer and work better than kidneys from deceased donors, so paired donation can improve long term outcomes for recipients.

Another major benefit is that every operation is carefully coordinated. Each donor only gives their kidney if their loved one receives one in return. This protects fairness and ensures everyone who takes part feels supported and reassured.

Who can take part in paired and pooled kidney donation?

Paired and pooled donation is available to people across the UK through the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme. It’s an option for anyone who wants to donate a kidney to a specific person but is not compatible with them. The incompatibility may be because of blood group differences or antibodies that make direct donation unsafe.

Before joining the sharing scheme, both donor and recipient must go through a full assessment. This includes health checks, blood tests, and detailed compatibility testing. These steps are important because they confirm that donating or receiving a kidney would be safe. Once approved, the pair can enter the matching runs that take place at set times throughout the year.

Taking part doesn’t guarantee a match immediately, but many pairs do find a compatible partner over time. The programme continues to expand as more people join, improving the chances of successful matches.

How non-directed donors take part in the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme

If a non-directed living donor chooses to donate their kidney, they may also be put into the UK Living Kidney Sharing Scheme and can ‘trigger’ a paired or pooled kidney donation who may not otherwise find a suitable transplant. The final recipient in the chain is someone on the deceased donor waiting list who has no living kidney donor option. When this happens, a single living donor kidney can enable up to three transplants – helping three recipients waiting for a kidney.

Support and guidance

Everyone in the donation process receives support from their transplant team. The team can explain how the scheme works, answer questions, and guide people through each stage. They arrange assessments, manage matching and scheduling, and offer emotional and practical support.

Donors and recipients are supported equally. The focus is on safety and wellbeing, and no decisions are made without careful discussion.

Speaking with our team is a helpful first step if you’re considering donating a kidney and have more questions about the sharing scheme.