Liver transplant - Waiting for a liver transplant

Because of the lack of available livers, it is rarely possible to have a liver transplant as soon as it is needed, so it is likely that you will be placed on a transplant waiting list.

Depending on the clinical need for a liver transplant, you will be placed either on a high-priority or medium-priority waiting list. Many people are well enough to stay at home until a liver becomes available.

The transplant centre will need to be able to contact you at short notice, so you must inform staff of any changes to your personal contact details. You should also inform staff if there are changes to your health – for example, if you develop an infection.

Waiting for a transplant

While waiting for a donated liver to become available, it is important that you stay as healthy as possible by doing the following:

eating a healthy diet – read information about healthy eating including diet and nutrition
taking regular exercise, if possible – read information about health and fitness for advice
not drinking alcohol – if you are unable to abstain from alcohol, it is likely you will be removed from the waiting list
not smoking – read information about quitting smoking

The average waiting time for a liver transplant is 142 days for adults and 78 days for children.

However, your waiting time may be a lot shorter if you are on a high-priority waiting list. In some circumstances, you may be able to shorten your waiting time if a relative, or possibly a friend, has the same blood type as you and is willing to take part in a living donor liver transplant.

If your child needs a liver transplant, you may also wish to discuss the possibility of taking part in a living donor liver transplant with staff at the transplant centre.

Prepare an overnight bag and make arrangements with your friends, family and your employer so that you can go to the transplant centre as soon as a donor liver becomes available.

In England, there are six NHS hospitals with specialist adult liver transplant centres. These hospitals are in:

London – two transplant centres at the Royal Free Hospital and King's College Hospital
Birmingham – the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Leeds – St James's University Hospital
Newcastle – Freeman Hospital
Cambridge – Addenbrooke's Hospital

There are also children's specialist liver hospitals:

It is likely you will be referred to the transplant centre that is closest to where you live.

It is possible for a planned transplant to be cancelled, for example because your health deteriorates to such as an extent that a transplant would no longer be safe or effective. You should discuss this possibility with the staff at your transplant centre and, if necessary, with friends, family and loved ones.

Coping with being on the waiting list

The stress of living with a serious liver condition can be bad enough, so the added anxiety and pressure while waiting for a liver to become available does not make the situation any easier.

Because of this extra stress, it is common for potential candidates for a liver transplant to have depression.

One study found that around one in four people waiting for a liver transplant had symptoms of moderate to severe depression.

Signs that you may be depressed include:

during the past month you have often been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless
during the past month you have often had little interest or pleasure in doing things

It is important not to neglect your mental health as this can have an adverse effect on your physical health.

If you think you may be depressed, contact your GP for advice.

You may find it useful to talk to people in the same situation. The British Liver Trust's website contains a directory of support groups. There is also a forum on this website for people affected by liver disease.