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| Couples swap kidneys in UK first | Couples swap kidneys in UK first |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two British couples have donated and received kidneys in the first paired operations of their kind in the UK. | Two British couples have donated and received kidneys in the first paired operations of their kind in the UK. |
| They are part of a new scheme aimed at increasing the number of donor organs. | They are part of a new scheme aimed at increasing the number of donor organs. |
| Peter Horrell, from Cambridgeshire, donated one of his kidneys to a man from Lothian, while the man's wife gave a kidney to Mr Horrell's wife Roma. | Peter Horrell, from Cambridgeshire, donated one of his kidneys to a man from Lothian, while the man's wife gave a kidney to Mr Horrell's wife Roma. |
| Until last September Mrs Horrell, whose husband was not a compatible donor, could have been given a live transplant only from a relative or close friend. | Until last September Mrs Horrell, whose husband was not a compatible donor, could have been given a live transplant only from a relative or close friend. |
| But last year's new laws mean living donors are no longer restricted to just those groups and can now include strangers. | |
| 'Freedom back' | 'Freedom back' |
| Three months after the operation Mrs Horrell says it has transformed her life. | Three months after the operation Mrs Horrell says it has transformed her life. |
| It's a sensible step forward which will hopefully help more people get off the waiting list Andrew BradleyAddenbrooke's Hospital surgeon | It's a sensible step forward which will hopefully help more people get off the waiting list Andrew BradleyAddenbrooke's Hospital surgeon |
| "I used to do home dialysis twice a day so it was quite a burden," she said. "Plus I got crippling gout, one of the side-effects of my kidney failure. | "I used to do home dialysis twice a day so it was quite a burden," she said. "Plus I got crippling gout, one of the side-effects of my kidney failure. |
| "Sometimes I was barely able to walk or bend down. Now I feel really well, it's given me my freedom back." | "Sometimes I was barely able to walk or bend down. Now I feel really well, it's given me my freedom back." |
| Mr Horrell wanted to donate his kidney to his wife but he was not a compatible donor, and says this is the next best thing. | Mr Horrell wanted to donate his kidney to his wife but he was not a compatible donor, and says this is the next best thing. |
| "As far as I was concerned I was helping Roma in this way. We're also very grateful to the woman in Scotland who gave a kidney to Roma. Indeed, everyone has benefited," he said. | "As far as I was concerned I was helping Roma in this way. We're also very grateful to the woman in Scotland who gave a kidney to Roma. Indeed, everyone has benefited," he said. |
| One kidney was flown down from Scotland | One kidney was flown down from Scotland |
| The transplants involved four carefully co-ordinated operations at Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. | The transplants involved four carefully co-ordinated operations at Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge, and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. |
| Mr Horrell's kidney was packed in an ice-cold solution and sealed inside a plastic bag. | Mr Horrell's kidney was packed in an ice-cold solution and sealed inside a plastic bag. |
| It was then driven to a local airport and flown to Edinburgh. The reverse happened with the donor kidney for Mrs Horrell. | It was then driven to a local airport and flown to Edinburgh. The reverse happened with the donor kidney for Mrs Horrell. |
| The transplant surgery in Cambridge and Edinburgh would have been illegal until 1 September 2006 when the law was changed. | The transplant surgery in Cambridge and Edinburgh would have been illegal until 1 September 2006 when the law was changed. |
| It is hoped the new rules will increase the number of organs available. | It is hoped the new rules will increase the number of organs available. |
| 'Sensible step' | 'Sensible step' |
| Professor Andrew Bradley, a surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, carried out one of the transplants. | Professor Andrew Bradley, a surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital, carried out one of the transplants. |
| He said other countries had used paired transplantation for years. | He said other countries had used paired transplantation for years. |
| "It's a sensible step forward which will hopefully help more people get off the waiting list," he said. | "It's a sensible step forward which will hopefully help more people get off the waiting list," he said. |
| "At the moment people spend on average three or four years waiting for a kidney and many never get a transplant." | "At the moment people spend on average three or four years waiting for a kidney and many never get a transplant." |
| The Scottish couple involved want to remain anonymous, but Mr and Mrs Horrell hope by publicising their involvement it may encourage other couples - where one needs a new kidney - to go on a special paired transplant register. | The Scottish couple involved want to remain anonymous, but Mr and Mrs Horrell hope by publicising their involvement it may encourage other couples - where one needs a new kidney - to go on a special paired transplant register. |
| There are currently 31 couples on the list. | There are currently 31 couples on the list. |
| About 6,500 people are waiting for a new kidney in the UK and last year about 2,000 kidney transplants were performed. | About 6,500 people are waiting for a new kidney in the UK and last year about 2,000 kidney transplants were performed. |