The Nephrology Ward at RMH is the leading kidney transplantation unit in the state of Victoria, which incorporates Tasmanian patients. Since 2005, with the advent of ABO incompatible kidney transplantation these figures have steadily increased. We describe our experience coping with seven cadaveric transplants over the space of one weekend.

As a unit of the public sector that runs at greater than 95% bed occupancy, allocating beds required concise communication and co-operation with many departments within the hospital. Efficient discharge planning was implemented to ensure bed availability for all recipients was assured.

Transplant patients are cared for on a one-to-one basis immediately post-operatively as per protocol. The arrival of seven transplant recipients posed a unique challenge with staff skill mix and newly rotated medical team. These issues were easily overcome with the availability of well embedded and frequently updated ward policies regarding transplantation

Locating current information for interstate patients in a short period of time proved difficult. This highlighted an existing deficiency in the organisation of such information, and has given us the impetus to find solutions.

Despite these hurdles all seven transplants patients went ahead successfully. This was largely due the experience of the nursing staff and the fabulous support provided by allied health and medical staff. As the ward staff have been integral in developing ABO transplant and related policy,has created a level of cohesion within the team, and gave us the level of expertise required to provide a higher level of service to our patients.