Neil Parrott - The Pain & Gain of Trekking the Great Wall of China

The Rotary Club of Kilrymont St Andrews was delighted to welcome Mr Neil Parrott as speaker on Tuesday 4^th April.  Neil, who has retired as Endocrine and Transplant Surgeon, Manchester Royal Infirmary, was on a marathon walk along the Great Wall of China with Club member James Yule and other supporters, workers and beneficiaries of Kidneys for Life to raise funds.  To date the group has raised £41,390.  James wanted to take part in the trek because Neil’s team at Manchester Royal Infirmary performed a life-saving kidney transplant on his daughter, Amitasuri, four years ago.

Neil, a keen photographer, had captured the various stages of their 5-day trek in which they covered over 100 miles.  Although they walked on parts of the ancient Wall that were steep, uneven and challenging, sometimes the most challenging part was the actual walk to the Wall itself, in one case up almost 1000 steps without any resting places.  The photographs showed the beautiful scenery by day, on several occasions marred by high pollution levels, but on one day clear and bright and from one of their hotels at night, they could see the string of lights marking the Wall.  They finished the trip with two days in Beijing seeing the sites including a tour of the Forbidden City.

Neil went on to explain that Kidneys for Life had been set up 41 years ago and is based at Manchester Royal Infirmary.  The aims of the charity are funding research into kidney disease, transplantation, dialysis and related disease affecting the kidney, direct patient amenities and the purchase of medical equipment for renal and transplant patients, education and training. The charity disburses between £300,000 to £500,000 per annum.

As a middle grade trainee doctor, Neil had realized the difference a kidney transplant could make and decided to choose that area of medicine.  Neil was the first surgeon to carry out a pancreatic transplant and in his role in Kidneys for Life he organized the World Transplant Games in Manchester for recipients of transplants.  He worked with Rotary Clubs in Manchester on this event was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship in recognition of his work.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects people of all ages.  1.5 million people are known to have CKD with possibly another 1 million people undiagnosed. CDK causes several other conditions, many of which are easily detectable.  Once advanced CDK is diagnosed the best treatment is transplant and it is also the most cost effective since the maintenance medication costs £5000 per year per person after the transplant cost of £17,000 whereas dialysis costs £30,000 per annum per person.  Transplants also increase life expectancy, quality of life, and energy levels. 

It has been surprising to surgeons like Neil who have been involved in transplants for many years, that the waiting list for organ transplants is decreasing.  However, it is disappointing that the UK consent/authorization rate for organ donation is only slightly up.  The introduction of keyhole surgery has had a significant impact on live kidney donations since the recovery time and impact of the procedure for the donor is much reduced.  The second contributory factor is the introduction 8 years ago of the Transplant Coordinators in every Intensive Care unit working alongside the staff.

Ranald Barrie thanked Neil on behalf of the Club and guests for a fascinating insight into Kidneys for Life and expressed the admiration of all for James, Neil and the others who took part in the Trek and made such a great fundraising effort.