The challenge of kidney transplantation among minority ethnic groups in the UK

The increased rate of renal failure secondary to diabetes among minority ethnic groups compared to Caucasians in the UK has been well documented. However, the impact of this phenomenon on kidney transplant services has been relatively unexplored. The Government has recently published its 'Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action' report which emphasises the importance of reducing health inequalities at all levels of the health service. This article provides a timely review of the UK's national transplant database examining the provision of kidney transplant services to minority ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. It seeks to explore the demographics of the database by focusing upon waiting list data, donor data, and recipient data. Inequalities do currently exist in transplant services and the solutions to rectifying this situation are complex. However, the financial and human burden of not addressing these inequalities encourages some immediate action.