Welcome To LISTEN.
LISTEN is a patient-led support network established in March 2006 at Kings College Hospital, London. It aims to provide a source of information and peer support for patients and their families before and after receiving a liver transplant at King's College Hospital (KCH), and also raise funds for the Kings Liver Unit.

Our experience is that it can be helpful for patients to meet with someone who has had a transplant and this is the key form of support we are seeking to provide. Being on the waiting list for a transplant is invariably an anxious, fearful and uncertain time and it can be very helpful to have contact with someone who has been through a transplant to hear about their experience and see that there is a good quality of life to be had afterwards. Our aim is that people on the waiting list should have the opportunity for at least one such contact with a transplant recipient. Equally, people who have had their transplant can find it helpful to be in contact with other transplant recipients, to talk about their experiences, concerns, give thanks to their donors and families, or celebrate the sheer wonder of transplantation and what health professionals have done for us.

About LISTEN
It should be stressed that all the work that LISTEN members do is voluntary. In planning and delivering the support we offer our work is in partnership with the Liver Unit staff at KCH. We work closely together on the management committee and King's staff provides some training to volunteers on the principles and ethics of support and being with people who are vulnerable. However what we provide is not professional counselling or medical expertise but peer-support. We want patients to benefit from the help they can give to one another.

As well as this website, the network will also produce newsletters at regular intervals which will provide information about our activities ,relevant transplant issues and events. The network aims to raise money for causes specifically related to the King's Liver Unit and patient support.

If you would like to be involved in the planning of this website or help us in getting the information together for this website, including your personal story or news and events that our members may find interesting or wish to attend, please do not hesitate to contact us by clicking on the 'Contact US' link in the menu.

Half Way House June 2008 July 2008 will see the reopening of the Half-Way House.  Having been used as the Liver Out Patients Clinic for a brief period, LISTEN are taking the house back under their wing and giving it the TLC that it so desperately needs! Due to your kind donations and the hard work of many of our fundraisers, LISTEN is in a position to totally refurnish this six-bedroomed house (which sleeps up to 11 people), with brand new fixtures and fittings.  Not only have the beds and wardrobes been replaced in each room, but new chest of drawers, bedside cabinets, TV/DVDs, crockery and cutlery (and more) have been added too.  A splash of colour will be added courtesy of the Aldred family, whose wonderful DIY skills will also ensure that the new addition of kitchen cabinets and shelves are complete. LISTEN would also like to “relaunch” the Half-Way House with a NEW NAME.

From 1st May, there will be a box in the Out Patients Clinic at the Half-Way House for everybody to put forward their thoughts.  So if you think “Heaton House”, “O’Grady Grange” or maybe even “King’s Cottage” has a good ring to it or you have a better idea, please get your thinking caps on and let us have your suggestions.  There will be a prize for the name that is used. You will also find in Out Patients at the Half-Way House that LISTEN is looking for donations of BOOKS and DVDs to be used by guests staying at the house.  So whenever your next appointment is, please could you donate an item (second hand in good condition or new please)? Used by families arriving at hospital unexpectedly and many patients of the King’s liver unit, the Half-Way House offers essential accommodation to those who need a place to stay near to the hospital. Thank you to everyone who has been involved with raising funds and supporting the house.  Please keep your donations coming in; every penny goes towards supporting this very special support community. Donna Barrington-Smith

Interested Parties-Derriford Support Group If you are a patient within the South West Peninsula and wish to contribute to the formation of the new Derriford Hospital Support group, George Bailey-Haigh would love to hear from you. He can be contacted through the website.