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Organ donation
Kidney transplantation relies entirely on the generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families through Donate Life. At North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (NQKTS), we work closely with our recipients, and the community to provide culturally safe and respectful care. Learn more about organ donation through DonateLife.
NQKTS provides services for people referred from Mackay and all areas north to the Torres Strait and Cape York, and all referrals are made by a treating kidney specialist (Nephrologist).
Deceased donor transplantation
All kidney transplants currently performed in North Queensland are from deceased donors—people who have passed away in hospital and whose family has consented to organ donation. This is known as deceased donor transplantation.
The donor’s medical history is carefully reviewed, and thorough testing is conducted to ensure the organ is safe for transplantation Your doctor will not be able to provide identifying information about the donor, as confidentiality is strictly maintained.
Once retrieved, the kidney is preserved in a cold solution to maintain their viability and transported to Townsville Hospital, allowing the recipient to be prepared for surgery. Kidneys can survive outside the body for up to 30 hours, though we aim to perform the transplant as soon as possible.
A recent advance used in transplantation is the ‘LifePort’ organ preservation system, which pumps cold fluid through the kidney’s blood vessels to extend the time between retrieval and transplantation.
Note: NQKTS has been providing deceased donor kidney transplants since going live on 28 July 2025. We plan to review the service in 2026 and hope to begin offering living donor transplantation in the future.
Contact between donor families and transplant recipients
Donor families and transplant recipients may exchange anonymous letters through DonateLife and transplant units. Health professionals must maintain anonymity by law.
Recipients are encouraged to write to donor families to acknowledge their generosity and share the impact of the transplant on their lives. This correspondence is deeply meaningful to donor families.
Read the correspondence guidelines for donor families and transplant recipients on the DonateLife website.
North Queensland Kidney Transplant Service (NQKTS)
Medilink Building, Ground Floor, Suite 7
100 Angus Smith Drive, Townsville QLD 4814
Transplant Coordinators
Phone: 07 4433 7814 | 07 4433 7815
Email: {"ct":"ruUYO5f7GIQNNxRrfOiVUd1goY77xPCjjv7AxZLqk3nO4cFnSEMkO6zmmNOBaqzM","iv":"eedf1e068137fbb7fa5c8100bcbd3ef9","s":"4033e9e87c2a440d"}
Kidney and transplant services
Phone: 07 4433 7076
Email: {"ct":"hEXUwkHBSOxoLNN875PrLX9i6XYrYcQXUS75yIhXbRE=","iv":"34bf917738692ccbbe2be9a78bf1e66d","s":"7fe95e5fa1f0ea51"}
Find out more about the renal services provided at Townsville Hospital and Health Service here.
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which our health facilities have been built and on which we meet today.
We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge.