30 oct. 1960 - First UK kidney transplant

Description:

The first UK kidney transplant takes place at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on October 30 1960 and involves an identical set of 49-year-old twins. The procedure is a success, with both donor and recipient living for a further six years before dying of an unrelated illness.
Kidney transplants, which for many are a welcome alternative to a lifetime of regular dialysis, now have a very high success rate, but demand outstrips supply due to an ageing population. This means there is an increased incidence of renal failure, while the number of donor organs available has fallen.