The Listen support network was launched in 2006 by King’s College Hospital’s Liver Transplant Unit professionals and volunteer post-transplant patients. Research and experience has shown that it can be helpful and reassuring for patients, their relatives and friends, to meet with someone who has had a liver transplant, see how well they are further down the line, and ask questions about the process.

Listen is there for patients, both pre and post-transplant, who wish to talk about their journey.  We do not give medical advice but can share knowledge of possible avenues to explore. We are not trained counsellors, but as post-transplant patients we do have a better understanding of the Liver transplantation journey.

Patients are first informed about Listen at their education session just after they are listed.  One of our mentors gives a short talk about us at the end of the session, outlining the benefits of membership of the Group.

Patients can sign up to become Listen members by completing a membership form (for GDPR compliance) following which they will be sent  invitations and information monthly by email. Click here for the application form. At the moment the form needs to be downloaded, printed and completed to be sent by post (or scanned and sent via email). In the future we hope to provide online registration.

What does Listen offer?

What do we do?

The Committee consists of the Liver Unit’s specialist Social Worker along with a team of  volunteer post-transplant patients, some of whom are trained Mentors. Click here for current members.  Responsibilities include:

Meetings are normally held every six to eight weeks, although are now more frequent to enable planning for the Group Zoom meetings. All Committee meetings are now also held by Zoom.

Post transplant patients who are interested in joining the Committee are encouraged to contact Linda Fraser (membership@listenatkings.org).  Ideally they should be two years post transplant and enjoy working as part of a team. We welcome those who are full of ideas and  motivated to take Listen to a new level in supporting members.

Until recently, the Listen Group Support Meetings were held face-to-face. In response to the circumstances in which we have found ourselves, the Committee is now running Group Meetings online via Zoom.  (See events page for details). These meetings are structured to reflect the format of the face-to-face meetings. We start with an expert speaker, maybe include one or two other small items and then break into small groups (yes, this is possible in Zoom meetings!) so that people get the chance to talk in small groups to others who are experiencing similar circumstances.

The Listen Support Group meetings are held on the third Monday of the month, starting at 2pm (click here for meeting dates). They are run by Listen Mentors and Committee Members with support from Liver Unit staff.

Invitations to the group meetings are sent out by email each month – click here for meeting dates.

The Meetings begin at 2pm with introductions. From 2:15pm, we have about 20-30 minutes dedicated to a talk by a healthcare professional followed by a Q&A session. We ask that questions are submitted in advance or on the day via Zoom text. Questions need to be of a general rather than personal nature to provide benefit to all. We are very fortunate to be supported by the Liver Unit and past speakers have included the pharmacy team, dieticians, transplant co-ordinators, researchers, psychologists, surgeons and physios. Occasionally our speakers have to change at the last minute due to work commitments so please bear with us if there are any last minute agenda changes.

From around 3pm we coordinate small Zoom groups to enable attendees a chance to chat with other patients and Mentors and ask questions.

Everyone is welcome! We welcome anybody on their journey through transplantation at King’s. Whether you are pre-transplant or post-transplant or a relative, friend or carer, we welcome you and hope you find the meetings helpful to learn, reflect and to share your experiences with others.

Patients are encouraged to contact the Specialist Social Worker to be referred to a mentor who will be happy to speak to them privately, face to face or by phone, email or text. Some Mentors support their contact through their entire transplant journey.

Listen now offers a private one to one, face to face, post transplant opportunity during the second half of the group meeting for a patient and their family/friend to talk about their transplant journey. This is by appointment with the Specialist Social Worker (click here for contact details).  This contact is also possible via phone, text or any preferred communication method.

Our trained mentors visit post-transplant patients whilst they are still on the ward to offer support and encouragement. Co-ordinators and ward staff give mentors the names of patients who might benefit from a visit.  Patients can request to see a mentor when they visit once a week.

Listen members are invited to join the closed Facebook group by request through Facebook and can then post comments, information and non-medical questions.  Meeting invitations are also posted here.  It is administered by two committee members.

Developed only recently the website, as part of a wider planned communications strategy for the Group, aims eventually to become a repository for all information to support patients and their loved ones. The current site represents phase 1 of something we hope will develop to be the place to go for any information required for liver transplant patients. This phase contains a huge amount of information including important contacts, what Listen is and how it works, and vast amounts of pharmacy and dietary information so that patients have confidence that this is the advice to follow. (Please note this is information only and not medical advice.) This has been brought together on a voluntary basis by people who totally empathise with the transplant experience. Much more is already planned;  constructive suggestions are welcomed from members to the Editor, Chris Winn (info@listenatkings.org).

Listen supports the Listen lodges, which provide overnight accommodation close to Kings for patients and relatives who have difficult journeys from outside the M25.  Their use is subject to availability (and not possible to book in advance) and is managed on a day to day basis by the Transplant Co-ordinators.

Lodges are subject to availability.

Once a post-transplant patient is well recovered, they might feel that they are ready to help support others through Listen.

Our trained Mentors are all post-transplant patients who have been through the transplant journey.

Applicants must be at least one year post transplant and need to be able to listen to others without giving medical advice or recounting their story. They are required to take part in a one day training session run by the Specialist social worker and two experienced Mentors, held usually on a Saturday. It will also be necessary to attend Induction sessions for Kings Volunteers.

There is no guarantee that the applicant will be accepted at the end of training day, sometimes it is felt that the applicant is not quite ready;  in this case feedback for possible future development will be provided.

There are different ways to mentor, most mentors do what they feel comfortable with or what they can manage around family and work commitments;   there is never any pressure to commit on a regular basis.

Mentors may be mentored themselves if needed at certain times. A close bond often forms between those who volunteer for Listen.

Mentors can do any of the following:

Application for training can be made to the Specialist Social Worker who runs training days twice a year if there is demand.

For further information please contact Linda Fraser (membership@listenatkings.org).