PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, 6th April 2010
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust welcomes new director of transplantation
Eminent surgeon, Mr. Andre Simon, joins Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust this month as the new director of transplantation. Mr Simon brings with him an international reputation in adult cardiac surgery, including transplantation and left ventricular-assist device therapy (LVAD, also called 'artificial hearts').
He will lead the Trust’s transplant and LVAD programmes based at Harefield Hospital, as well as running cardiac outpatient clinics and performing cardiac procedures. Prior to his appointment, Mr Simon was based at Hanover Medical School in Germany.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Timothy Evans, medical director at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: "It is a pleasure to welcome Andre to the Trust. He brings with him a strong academic track record which will, without doubt, further strengthen the work of our transplant team.
“I look forward to working with him while he leads the Trust’s clinical research programmes in transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.”
Mr. Simon said: “I have worked at the Trust previously and I am delighted to be returning as director of transplant. I am looking forward to being part of a team of professionals who, through their transplantation work, are dedicated to transforming the lives of patients.
“Harefield Hospital is one of only three centres in the UK providing LVAD support and I very much hope that the skills and expertise that I bring will enable us to further develop our groundbreaking work. The Trust also has a strong track record in research expertise in this area and I look forward to building on this success.”
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust’s transplant unit is the UK’s largest and most experienced centre for heart and lung transplants. Over 2,500 operations have been performed at Harefield Hospital since Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub carried out his first heart transplant in 1980. Harefield has over 1,000 transplant patients, some of whom received their organs over twenty years ago and for whom the hospital provides life-long care.
Transplants are now so successful that many more patients can be considered for treatment in this way. Advances in surgical skills and better drugs mean that a year after surgery 81 per cent of heart transplant patients and 77 per cent of lung transplant patients can still expect to be recovering well.
Ends/
For further information please contact:
Shima Islam, head of media relations
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust
Tel: 020 7351 8672 (Brompton)
Tel: 01895 828 877 (Harefield)
Mobile: 07866 536 345
Email: S.Islam@rbht.nhs.uk
Notes to editors:
Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is the largest specialist heart and lung centre in the UK and among the largest in Europe. The Trust is based on two sites: Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London and Harefield Hospital in Middlesex.Harefield Hospital is a national and international leader in the treatment of heart and lung disease and is renowned for its pioneering transplant unit.
