Heart and renal transplant patients to represent Great Ormond Street Hospital in the British Transplant Games

Great Ormond Street Hospital heart and renal transplant patients will get a taste of the Olympics when they represent the hospital at the 2012 British Transplant Games.As a result of successful heart, lung and kidney transplants a number of our patients will now have the opportunity to compete in sport. This year is the 21st year GOSH has entered a heart and lung team into the British Transplant Games, it also sees GOSH enter its largest ever renal team with 19 participants taking part. Patients will participate in a range of sports in Medway competing against lots of other children and young people representing other UK hospitals.

The British Transplant Games take place over four days and aim to encourage transplant patients to regain fitness and confidence by celebrating life. It also promotes friendship and co-operation between individuals concerned with transplantation, whilst increasing public awareness of the value of organ donation and honouring the transplant recipients, donors and donor families.

Suzanne Bradley, Renal Clinical Nurse Specialist at GOSH, comments: “Each and every one of our GOSH competitors in The British Transplant Games is a champion by virtue of standing at the starting line waiting for the starting signal! I wish them all the very best at this year’s Games. Let the Transplant Games torch of sport and friendship burn brightly as they serve as ambassadors for life through the gift of organ donation.”

Patients coming to the hospital for transplants are now treated in the new Morgan Stanley Clinical Building, the first part of the Mittal Children’s Medical Centre. Both the British Kidney Patient Association Children’s Kidney Centre and the Wolfson Heart and Lung Centre offer more space and en suite facilities providing more privacy and comfort for patients and their families.