- Transplant seminars
- Living donor seminars
- Donate Life Events
Patient resources
Kidney transplant and donation
- Patient booklet—Kidney Transplantation: What you need to know
- Becoming a living kidney donor brochure
- Preparing for your kidney transplant: medication information
- Blood Group Incompatible (ABOi) Kidney Transplants Brochure
- Australian Paired Kidney Exchange program (ANZKX)
- Getting the call for a transplant
After your transplant
- Medications after a kidney transplant
- Picture guide of kidney transplant medications
- Prevent infection after a kidney transplant
- Life after transplantation
Mental health and welfare
- Waiting for your transplant
- Mental health
- Social, psychological and emotional wellbeing
- Domestic violence and abuse
- Carers and support
- Support for people in Queensland under 65 years of age
- Home care supports and residential care services in Australia to people over 65 years of age
Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH)
- Princess Alexandra Hospital accommodation guide for patients
- Patients from different cultures and language backgrounds
- Travel and transport
- Transplant unit
- Getting to Building 31 from Main Hospital
- Getting to Building 31 from Outpatients 4A (4BT)
Financial considerations and employment
The process of being referred for a kidney transplant, waiting for a transplant, having transplant surgery, and then coping with everything afterwards can be huge for individuals and families. It is important to look after your mental health and wellbeing during this time. Support is available via helplines, online support, counselling and support groups and we encourage you to access the support that is right for you.
Access information and assistance in times of mental health crisis 24 hours a day - phone 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 22 55).
Support is also available through the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service. Referrals can be arranged within the hospital or to community practitioners and agencies. The important thing is to ask for help if you need it, as staff do not always know the private circumstances of all patients and families.
Some patients have found the following activities helpful during their transplant experience:
- Mindfulness
- Meditation
- Journal writing
- Purposeful activity like community involvement and volunteering
- Counselling
Useful links
Dealing with a major health concern can bring with it a lot of practical challenges. Support is available if you are experiencing financial difficulty, coping with job loss or need help with housing and accommodation.
Useful links
- Programs and support
- Oneplace - community services directory
- Ask Izzy - service and support finder
- My Community Directory - directory of community welfare and support services
Kidney Transplantation is publicly funded in Australia, however you can expect to incur a range of expenses such as transport to attend appointments, medications, accommodation and travel if you do not live near the Queensland Kidney Transplant Service.
Explore payment options such as income protection, insurance, superannuation and sickness/disability payments thoroughly and seek legal and medical advice about accessing these payments.
Useful links
- Centrelink - income support, sickness allowance and disability payments
- Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme - helps with the cost of travel and accommodation if you need to travel long distances to attend the hospital
- PBS medicine safety net
- More financial assistance resources
Maintaining good nutrition/dietary requirements both before and after your transplant is very important.
During the pre-transplant phase, you need to ensure you are meeting the requirements from your treating team which will include a minimal/no salt/sodium requirement, and specific protein requirements. The dietitians can provide information relevant to your situation.
Useful links
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison staff are available throughout the entire treatment journey to support patients who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and their families.
PAH welcomes everyone, whether their homes are near or far. The hospital recognises that many people, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients might need quite a bit of support to manage the various health and treatment pathways. PAH Metro South is here to help all patients achieve the best health outcomes, however we can.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Service is located on the Ground Floor of the Main Building, near the Main Information Desk not far from the main entrance. The liaison service is staffed Mondays through to Fridays. You can phone us on 07 3176 2111.
First nations patient story
We welcome people from many language and cultural backgrounds. For many patients and families, English is not their first language. We provide telephone and in-person interpreters. This service is at no cost to the patients. If you would like an interpreter please let us know as soon as possible so we can arrange one in advance.
Every effort will be made to support the cultural values, preferences and requirements of all patients. Please let staff know if there is any way we can help you feel as comfortable and involved with your treatment as possible.
Useful links
- Interpreter Service (Help with English) call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) and ask for an interpreter
- Metro South Hospital Interpreters
Alcohol and drug use both before and after a transplant can affect your kidney transplant and overall health. If you need help with alcohol and drug use please speak with your medical team.
Useful contacts
- PAH Alcohol and Drug Assessment Unit - phone: (07) 3176 5191
- Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services - phone: 1300 64 2255
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Alcohol and Drug Foundation
All patients are encouraged and entitled to take charge of their health and treatment situation. This can be done by developing an individual and personal set of planning documents, designed exactly how individuals want them to be. This is known as Advance Care Planning. Your treating team is keen to make sure that your beliefs and wishes about your treatment are known and can be fully respected.
Metro South Statement of Choices form
The Metro South Statement of Choices Form is not a formal legal document but is officially recognised as a way for you to express in writing, your future treatment wishes and preferences if you become too sick to make these decisions.
Completing a Metro South Statement of Choices Form is highly recommended for all adults who have not done an Advance Health Directive (AHD).
Acute resuscitation plan (ARP)
An acute resuscitation plan is a plan that is initiated by the treating team and is a document that records whether and under what circumstances you want to be resuscitated in the event that your heart stops.
It is different to an Advance Health Directive /Metro South “Statement of Choices” as it is used as a clinical document to enable the treating team to know your wishes about resuscitation. The document is completed after your doctor speaks with you or your family at the time of a Hospital Admission or if receiving treatment such as in-centre dialysis.
The ARP is not for everyone. If you have a foreseeable risk of a cardiac or respiratory arrest or are extremely sick and unlikely to improve, you may be approached to make an ARP. This is especially important when you are an inpatient at the hospital or are receiving regular treatments such as dialysis or plasmapheresis.
A copy will be kept at the front of your Medical Record. You can keep a copy so that if you are discharged from hospital, and if the time frame is relevant, the ARP can be used to advise ambulance officers and others of your wishes if your heart stops.