For the thousands of people living with kidney failure and waiting for a transplant, the reality of daily life on the waiting list can be exhausting and uncertain. Long periods on dialysis, the emotional weight of waiting, and the knowledge that suitable organs are in short supply all take a toll. A recent article from NHS Blood and Transplant reports on a new pilot programme that could, over time, help more donated kidneys reach the patients who need them.
What is the NHS organ preservation programme?
According to NHSBT, the programme involves opening 15 pilot Assessment and Recovery Centres (ARCs) across the UK. These centres use a technology called machine perfusion, where donated organs are connected to a machine that circulates warm, oxygenated blood and nutrient-rich fluids through them. This keeps the organs in a near-living state outside the body, giving clinical teams more time to assess whether they are safe to transplant.
The article explains that many donated organs are currently not used simply because there is not enough time to carry out the necessary tests. The short window between donation and transplantation means clinicians sometimes have to decline organs they are not confident enough to accept. The ARCs aim to change that by extending the assessment window, so more donated organs — including kidneys — can be evaluated thoroughly and potentially transplanted.
The first pilot lung centre has opened at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, with kidney and liver pilot centres to follow in the coming months. Importantly for our community, Manchester is one of the seven kidney pilot sites, alongside Cambridge, Newcastle, Oxford, Edinburgh, Royal Free and Hammersmith. You can find out more about renal care at Manchester Royal Infirmary on our website.
You can read the full original article from NHS Blood and Transplant here: NHS starts machine preservation programme to enable more transplants.
Why this matters for kidney patients
The NHSBT article reports that around 7,000 people with kidney failure are currently on the transplant waiting list in the UK. The total waiting list has grown to over 8,200, and last year 463 people died while waiting for a transplant. Meanwhile, the pool of potential donors is shrinking as the population ages and more people live with long-term health conditions. We have previously written about how pig kidney transplant research is exploring alternative ways to address this shortage.
According to NHSBT, if this programme is fully rolled out it could enable up to 345 additional kidney transplants every year. That would represent a meaningful increase in the number of people who receive the transplant they need. For people in Greater Manchester and the North West, having a local pilot centre at Manchester means this work will be happening close to home.
The article also describes how, in a full ARCs model, organs could receive additional reconditioning treatments — such as surgical repairs, medications and even cell therapies. Organs that still cannot be transplanted could be directed towards potentially lifesaving medical research.
What this does — and does not — mean right now
This is a pilot programme, which means it is being carefully tested before any decisions are made about a wider rollout. The kidney pilot centres have not yet opened, and it will take time to gather the evidence needed to assess whether the programme delivers on its promise. Patients should not expect immediate changes to their own transplant journey as a result of this announcement.
If you have questions about your place on the transplant waiting list or your treatment, your renal team remains the best source of advice. However, this programme reflects a genuine commitment from the NHS to improve how donated organs are used, and that is encouraging news for everyone affected by kidney failure.
At MRIKPA, we welcome developments like this that aim to make the most of every generous organ donation. We will continue to follow the progress of this pilot and share updates as they become available. If you would like to learn more about kidney transplantation or connect with our community, please visit our patient information page.
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant, March 2026 — read the original article
