Media Release Mar 12 2008

World Kidney Day: Afternoon tea for long-term transplant survivors

Celebrate World Kidney Day, the Renal Unit of Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) will be hosting an afternoon tea for long-term kidney transplant recipients.

The first kidney transplant in New South Wales was performed at Sydney Hospital on 3rd August 1967. This Renal Unit merged with RNSH’s Unit in 1983. Since 1967, 881 transplants have been performed at Sydney Hospital and RNSH.

The RNSH Renal Unit has excellent results for long-term renal transplants and has many patients with more than 25 years of kidney transplant survival.

Attending this afternoon tea are 11 renal transplant recipients who have had successful transplants for over 25 years and are still in our care. This includes one recipient who has had her transplant for 40 years and is in the top three longest surviving patients in Australia.

The afternoon tea will be celebrating the outstanding achievement of these patients and the staff who have cared for them over four decades.

Guest speakers and proceedings:
• Welcome…Dr David Waugh, Head of Renal Medicine, RNSH
• An historical account of transplantation surgery … Associate Professor John Mahony AM (former Director of Kidney Transplant Unit at Sydney Hospital and former Director of Transplantation, RNSH
• The transplant experience from a patient’s perspective … Mr Michael Anderson (received his kidney transplant 38 years ago)
• Advances in renal transplantation over the years, and what’s in store for the future …Dr Bruce Cooper, Director of Transplantation
• Presentation of certificates to renal transplant recipients
• Afternoon tea

Time: 2.30pm – 3.30pm
Date: 13 March 2008
Location: The Vanderfield Building, Pacific Highway, St Leonards

Interview and picture opportunities.

Media contact: Emily Saker 9926 8313 or 0404 054 160

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