A day-in-the-life of a Living Donor Coordinator
26 September 2025
Caroline Basarab-Horwath is a Living Donor Transplant Coordinator at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. For Organ Donation Week, she has shared a day in her working life.
6:00am – The Morning Rush
It’s Wednesday morning, and the alarm goes off far too soon. Wednesdays are always busy with the Living Donor Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meeting starting at 7:45am. That means it’s a mad dash to get the children ready for school, walk the dogs, and feed the animals. By the time I head out the door, my mind is already shifting into work mode.
7:45am – The MDT Meeting
I always feel a little nervous before these meetings – it’s crunch time. This is where the team decides whether a donor can move forward, needs more tests, or in some cases, has to be declined. I know how much it means to donors to be accepted. For them, it isn’t just about tests or surgery – it’s about being able to give something priceless to someone they love (or even to someone they’ve never met).
When a donor is accepted, I see the relief, the pride, and often happy tears. It’s a huge moment that makes all the long appointments and waiting worthwhile. And when it’s not good news, I feel that too – the disappointment is real, and I always think carefully about how best to support them afterwards.
I meet Lisa, Clinical Practitioner, in the office and we head into the meeting. Sitting around the table (and sometimes on screen) are surgeons, nephrologists, anaesthetists, and scientists. We run through each donor case in detail—discussing test results, concerns, and next steps. My role is to present each case and make sure the donor’s voice is heard. It’s intense but collaborative, and by the end, we have a clear plan for each person.
After the meeting, I head to clinic to welcome the ‘one-stoppers’ and take them to their first appointment of the day. The one-stop day involves a measured GFR test, (accurate kidney function) consultations with a transplant surgeon and nephrologist, and finishes with the all-important CT scan. The scan gives the surgeons detailed images of the kidneys, helping them check for any abnormalities and how the kidneys are ‘plumbed in’ – how the blood vessels and drainage system are connected. This menas the surgeons can assess if it is possible to safely remove and transplant the donor’s kidney.
9:30am – Check Messages
Back in the office, I sift through emails and messages. There’s always something waiting - blood results to check, clinic lists to organise, or a donor who needs a call back. I like to plan out my day, but I’ve learned to expect the unexpected - things can change very quickly!
10:00am – Actioning the MDT
I spend the next hour calling donors—arranging results appointments, requesting tests, providing updates, and sometimes, excitingly, giving donors and recipients their theatre dates.
11:00am – Nurse Consultation
This morning I see a potential Non-Directed Donor (someone who wishes to donate to a stranger) for a nurse consultation. They’ve already had initial tests with Lisa - blood tests including kidney and liver function, virology screening, blood pressure, weight, chest X-ray, and a heart tracing. These have been reviewed by our Consultant Nephrologist, who has cleared them to proceed to the one-stop day.
Before the one stop day, I book a video call for the nurse consultation to explain the pathway, surgery, recovery, and risks, while also getting to know them and understanding their home and work situation. My job is to guide them through the process and reassure them that their safety and wellbeing are our absolute priority.
This is one of my favourite parts of the job - building a relationship with new donors. I always ask my favourite question: “Why do you want to donate a kidney?” The answers can be deeply emotional, and it’s especially powerful to hear how a Non-Directed Donor a has come to this decision.
12:00pm – Service Improvement Meeting (Working Lunch)
The Transplant Team meets with our service improvement coach, who has worked with us for many years to enhance the living donor and transplant service. Right now, we’re creating donor videos where previous donors and recipients share their journeys.
I enjoy these meetings - we’ve achieved many improvements together, like developing the one-stop assessment day.
1:00pm – Video Call
A quick check-in with a donor from last week to see how they’re recovering. It’s lovely to see them on screen rather than just talking on the phone. It helps me assess how they’re doing and provide reassurance.
1:30pm – Living Donor Clinic
Back in clinic, I catch up with the one-stoppers, making sure their day is running smoothly. I coordinate the flow of appointments, ensure the surgeon and nephrologist have what they need, and sit in on consultations.
It’s a busy clinic - one-stoppers, results appointments, and post-op reviews. A donor from two weeks ago is doing brilliantly, which is such a joy to see. We confirm two more donors are suitable and offer them theatre dates - always a highlight. But then comes the hardest part of my job: telling someone they cannot donate. The disappointment can be devastating, and I do everything I can to support them in that moment.
3:30pm – Meeting Donor and Recipient
The donor and recipient scheduled for theatre tomorrow arrive in clinic with their bags. They meet with their surgeons, nephrologists, and complete final bloods.
4:00pm – Settling Onto the Ward
I take the donor and recipient to the ward, introduce them to staff, meet their relatives, and talk through the plan for the next day. This is a delicate time with lots of last-minute nerves, so I focus on reassurance and support.
4:30pm – Wrapping Up
The last part of my day is paperwork: updating notes, documenting clinic outcomes, and recording conversations. It may not be the most exciting task, but it’s vital for safety and continuity.
5:30pm – Heading Home
Driving home, I reflect on the people I’ve met today. Each one is on a journey that will change their life, and someone else’s, forever. It’s a privilege to walk alongside them, to listen, to guide, and to be part of something so life-giving.
I think of the donor and recipient I have left on the ward. Both carrying their own hopes and worries, facing a long night of anticipation, before the life changing surgeries that await them in the morning. I look forward to getting to work the next day to hold their hands and support them through their day.
No two days are ever the same as a Living Donor Coordinator, but every day is centred around supporting people who are considering one of the most generous acts possible: giving the gift of life through kidney donation.
If you would like more information on living kidney donation please visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk/livingdonation
