Harefield Hospital’s transplant unit welcomes national initiative

Harefield Hospital’s transplant team have welcomed a new national initiative to increase the number of heart and lung transplants that take place across the country.

Harefield Hospital, part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, is 1 of 6 cardiothoracic transplant centres in England, and one of the few specialising in both heart and lung transplants, of which there are approximately 300 per year. The aim, according to the announcement from NHS England, is to “significantly increase” this number.

Harefield currently undertakes around 50 heart and 30 lung transplants per year, but already has plans to increase these numbers to at least 70 heart and 45 lung transplants annually over the next three years, subject to donor availability and clinical capacity.

Professor Anna Reed, consultant in respiratory and transplant medicine and national specialty adviser to NHS England, has welcomed the announcement. She said:

“This is a very welcome initiative. At Harefield, we see every day the life-changing value of heart and lung transplants. As one of the UK’s 6 transplant centres, we have a wealth of expertise and experience to contribute to this national effort.

“In my role, I work closely with patients before and after transplant, and I know how vital it is not just to increase access, but to improve long-term outcomes. Our recent survival figures are among the best in the country, which is a testament to the skill and dedication of our multidisciplinary team.

“We also recognise the urgent need to expand the donor pool, and we look forward to continuing our involvement in national campaigns to raise awareness and encourage more people to consider organ donation.”

Harefield recently came out on top in terms of long term survival rates for those who have had heart and lung transplants.

A report prepared for an NHS Blood and Transplant advisory committee showed that Harefield had the greatest proportion of patients surviving, on average, five years or more after their lung transplants out of all the national centres.

Half of Harefield’s lung transplant recipients who survived their first year post-transplant are still alive 10 years post-transplant – one and a half years longer than the national average.