Latest news

Freya Heddington was 13 years-old when she received a heart transplant under a new collaboration between Royal Papworth and Great Ormond Street hospitals.

Anna Hadley was the world's first child to benefit from a new form of paediatric heart transplant, in a collaboration between Royal Papworth and Great Ormond Street hospitals.

By ‘reanimating’ the heart outside of the body, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Royal Papworth Hospital and NHSBT expand donor pool and perform six paediatric heart transplants in 2020.

The ‘Internationally Trained Nurse Programme’ at Royal Papworth Hospital will enable overseas nurses to become registered nurses in the UK

Almost 40% of all eligible patients at Royal Papworth have been recruited to the COVID-19 study, against a national baseline target of 10%.

Sir Pendrill Varrier-Jones (1883-1941) founded the tuberculosis colony that would eventually become Royal Papworth Hospital.

Eva, 30, was 34 weeks pregnant when she was rushed into hospital with coronavirus. After 76 days she has now been discharged home to meet her daughter for the first time.

Erica recently contracted coronavirus and became critically unwell, but has fought back thanks to ‘support, love and care’.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is the last hope for patients in the fight against COVID-19, when other forms of ventilation have proven to be unsuccessful.

As International Year of the Nurse draws to a close, we sit down for a chat with critical care assistant practitioner Abby Barhoumi ahead of her qualification as a registered nurse

Our Medical Director, Dr Roger Hall and Nurse Consultant, Judith Machiwenyika, receive honours in the New Year Honours List for 2021.

Diane Barker was the fourth patient to undergo surgery - when she was just five - using a heart-lung machine at the original Papworth Hospital in 1960.

Teams at Royal Papworth Hospital are using a new device to treat the common heart condition, which could reduce the need for patients to stay overnight in hospital.

Andrew Forster is walking a marathon each day throughout November - a total of 780 miles - to raise money for Royal Papworth Charity.

We have exchanged contracts on the sale of our former hospital site in Papworth Everard.

Royal Papworth Hospital’s heart attack service has remained open throughout the coronavirus pandemic but saw a drop in referrals in spring and again in autumn.

Patient Aide aims to reduce the number of unnecessary hospital appointments for people with obstructive sleep apnoea.

CPAP is a type of non-invasive ventilation normally used to treat patients with common sleep disorders at Royal Papworth Hospital

Donation after circulatory determined death (DCD) heart transplantation at Royal Papworth Hospital has made a dramatic difference in the number of lives that have been saved since 2015.

Join our virtual annual members' meeting on Wednesday 18 November to hear about the hospital's performance over the last year, including our response to coronavirus.

Melat Haileselasse is a staff nurse working on the surgical ward at Royal Papworth Hospital, caring for patients who have just undergone major operations. Here she talks about her journey from Ethiopia to Cambridge.

In the fourth and final episode, 75-year-old Maureen undergoes complex cardiac surgery to repair an enlarged aorta – the body’s largest blood vessel.

Tissue donated to Royal Papworth Hospital has been used to grow ‘mini-lungs’, which was then infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, to see how the human body responds in the early stages following infection.

Judy Machiwenyika is chair of Royal Papworth Hospital's Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Network. She discusses the barriers black people face at work and what is being done to address those issues.

The Institute will create the largest cardiothoracic centre for research, education, industry collaboration and clinical care in Europe.

David Halsey’s double lung transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge will be broadcast in episode three of the BBC Two programme on Tuesday 20 October

Victor Tapah is a critical care nurse at Royal Papworth Hospital. He shares his story of fleeing Cameroon in 2012 in search of a better life.

Kevin, a grandfather of two from Peterborough, undergoes complex operation at Royal Papworth Hospital in episode two of ‘Surgeons: At the Edge of Life’

Our Chief Nurse Josie Rudman has received an MBE for her services to nursing.

Royal Papworth is the only UK hospital offering balloon pulmonary angioplasty - a minimally invasive alternative to surgery to treat CTEPH disease

Royal Papworth cardiologists trial UK's first procedure with virtual support using smart glasses which provide doctors-eye view of procedure

Shelly had pulmonary endarterectomy surgery at Royal Papworth, the only centre in the UK that offers this technically challenging procedure.

Seven nursing associates have completed a two-year training programme at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Royal Papworth Hospital and Addenbrooke’s Hospital will feature in the forthcoming BBC series of Surgeons: At the Edge of Life.

The brothers from Peterborough, who comprise the band Endeavour, played to their dad who is being treated for motor neurone disease at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Tineke Dixon underwent a heart-lung transplant at the age of 16. We caught up with her for Organ Donation Week 2020 ahead of the 32nd anniversary of her operation.

For Organ Donation Week 2020, Sandeep shares his story in the hope it encourages others to talk about organ donation.

Cystic fibrosis patient Daren says ‘scariest moment’ has been turned to ‘a distant memory’ due to wonder drug Kaftrio

Royal Papworth one of three hospitals to provide programme commissioned by NHS Blood and Transplant and NHS England.

The NHS is innovating to find new ways of safely treating people. Sleep centre patients can now pick-up equipment and learn how to use it without stepping foot inside our hospital.

New study will explore the COVID-19 immune response in NHS workers and hospitalised patients.

Alex Stobbs, 30, has been taking Kaftrio since March, and says it has completely turned around his life.

The European Medicines Agency’s decision on Friday means that we can now begin the process of prescribing Kaftrio to eligible patients at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Charlotte Smith and the cystic fibrosis nursing team have been shortlisted in the Nursing Times Awards 2020.

The study aims to find out how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on the health and well-being of NHS staff.

Richard Priest was admitted to Royal Papworth Hospital on New Year's Eve - 200 days later, he's heading home following a successful heart transplant.

Ruth May, England's chief nurse, has issued a rallying call to people receiving their A-Level results on Thursday.

A fundraising page to replace Ellie's bike reached its initial £300 target within 24 hours.

The procedure also enables higher-risk patients who would be unsuitable for open-heart surgery to receive treatment and experience a significant improvement in symptoms and quality of life.

Dr Andrew Grace has received the title of Honorary Professor of Experimental Cardiology by the University of Cambridge.

The new device, which is also being developed in collaboration with Cambridge Design Partnership, allows one ventilator to be used by two patients more safely.

Lung and heart transplants were significantly reduced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but numbers have been returning back to normal.

We are currently seeking a new non-executive director at Royal Papworth. Here, one of our existing NEDs, Cynthia Conquest, talks more about the role and what it involves.

Royal Papworth Hospital has been rated as one of the best-performing hospitals in the country for inpatient experience, according to a new report.

Interview with Siobhan Moore, Education Sister, about nursing careers within critical care.

The Aircraft Restoration Company will fly the Spitfire over a number of NHS hospitals in the East of England on Sunday 5 July.

Sam Henman, Lead Nurse for Cystic Fibrosis at Royal Papworth Hospital, says the triple combination therapy, Kaftrio, has already produced 'amazing' results.

Michael Willis received a bilateral lung transplant in 2017 and has now won awards for his fundraising and awareness raising for organ donation

Seven nurses from Royal Papworth are featured as part of the 'Rainbows for the NHS' campaign on the big screen at Picadilly Circus in central London

Hannah Gingell, who is a nursing apprentice, appears in episode one of a new programme called 'The Choir: Singing for Britain'

Luke and Sammie have been CF patients at Royal Papworth Hospital for a combined 50 years. For CF week, they talk treatment, transplants and trail blazing.

A celebration, recognising the staff at Royal Papworth Hospital

Sadie and Liam Fountain, from Ramsey near Peterborough, share their story of coronavirus.

Peter Kisgeretz initially underwent surgery to remove a tumour in his chest in March

Royal Papworth Hospital is one of three NHS trusts based in Cambridgeshire that is recruiting staff to the COV002 trial

Local branch of The Christmas Decorators install 'loveNHS' sign to thank staff working at Royal Papworth Hospital.

We speak to three final-year student nurses who started their careers early to support the NHS' response to COVID-19.

Nnamdi has been spent several weeks on loan from our outpatients department to critical care to help care for COVID-19 patients

Three of our staff who are working from home discuss their sudden change in working environment owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and how they have adapted to new challenges.

Dr Daniel Gearon is a surgical trainee at Royal Papworth Hospital. He has founded a new mental health charity for doctors and writes about his experience as part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2020.

Michelle Hemmings received a single lung transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital in 2018 and now raises awareness of organ donation within the BAME community.

The organ donation law change comes into force in England on Wednesday 20 May 2020

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation supports people who are in respiratory failure and has been vital during the coronavirus pandemic.

Royal Papworth's family liaison team comprises staff from across the Trust who have been redeployed owing to coronavirus

Senior clinicians have praised the way Royal Papworth and North West Anglia have worked together as “a great example of collaboration within the NHS.” 

Tom Walker is a physiotherapist at Royal Papworth Hospital and part of the team caring for critically ill coronavirus patients.

Today marks a year since we welcomed our first patients to our new hospital.

The number of patients coming to the hospital with a heart attack or being referred for suspected lung cancer has fallen by half.

Phill Hardwell’s survival described as ‘miraculous’ after he needed eight trips to theatre before his life-saving transplant.

Callum had been working within the cystic fibrosis team but has changed roles in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

Professor Hawking's daughter, Lucy, gifts her father's old privately-owned ventilator to help care for patients with COVID-19.

Carole was discharged from hospital and reunited with her family last week after having an aortic valve replacement.

Alison picked up coronavirus in the community and was transferred from her local hospital to Royal Papworth last weekend.

Our consultant Dr Chinmay Patvardhan shares his experience of working in critical care during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Royal Papworth Hospital has now recruited its 50th COVID-19 patient to the national RECOVERY Trial

We catch up with Hannah about her experience of joining the critical care team in the fight against COVID-19.

Jane Woollcott is now looking forward to celebrating her birthday next week after beating coronavirus

One of our deputy sisters, Fiona Bruce, share her experience of working in our critical care department.

This page will be updated with latest news and guidance for inpatients, outpatients, and relatives.

Large, whose real name was Edward McGinnis, had a heart transplant at Royal Papworth in 2003.

The RECOVERY Trial is being led by a team at the University of Oxford with contributions from over 100 hospitals across the UK.

For March's edition of our monthly feature for 2020, we sat down with Eamonn, a registered nurse who now works in our digital department.

Patient Aaron Green now looking ahead to his wedding after receiving first-ever Donation after Circulatory Death (DCD) heart-lung transplant.

Advice for Royal Papworth Hospital patients who are extremely vulnerable from COVID-19.

Two cases of coronavirus have been identified on the inpatient wards.

Useful advice and FAQs for our heart transplant and lung transplant patients at Royal Papworth Hospital

For the spring 2020 edition of our quarterly magazine, NewsBeat, we caught up with our infection prevention and control and tissue viability team to talk about the work they do at Royal Papworth Hospital.

Liam and Sarah became husband and wife in a civil ceremony which took place in the hospital's critical care unit.

Steve Johnson, the site manager for SDC and man responsible for overseeing much of the build, talks about what the HRLI will mean for him and his family.

The Institute will create the largest cardiothoracic centre for research, education, industry collaboration, and clinical care in Europe.

For February's edition of our monthly feature for 2020, we sat down with Marian, a surgical care practitioner working within our operating theatres.

The British Army and Royal Papworth came together on Thursday 13 February for a very special moment.

Project Breathe aims to give our cystic fibrosis patients more control over their health and wellbeing. Kate reflects on her first six months on the scheme.

Project Breathe aims to investigate whether equipment and monitoring software can be used to change the way that care for CF patients is delivered.

In the first of our monthly features, Carole Buckley tells us about her nursing career and current role as assistant director for quality and risk.

A team at Royal Papworth has become the first in the world to remove an entire lung using a pioneering surgical and anaesthetic technique.

Tim – who is currently Director of Finance at Cambridge University Hospitals – will join the Trust in April this year.

The ‘Nasal High-flow Oxygen Therapy after Cardiac Surgery' (NOTACS) study will investigate the effect of administering high-flow oxygen to patients through their nose after cardiac surgery.

Acorns from Royal Papworth's old site in Papworth Everard have been planted as oak trees at the new hospital in Cambridge

It was the first time the lung transplant technique had been used in the UK, to treat Shanice's cystic fibrosis

Cardioversion is a low-risk, non-invasive procedure for people who have heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation (AF). 

Almost 200 patients have been treated using novel technique to help tackle opioid epidemic.

Sale of Papworth Everard site to Global Healthcare Real Estate Limited will not be going ahead.

Vote for our most caring and compassionate staff member in the Royal Papworth Staff Awards 2020.

On the 25th anniversary of the National Lottery, we celebrate some of the heritage projects it has helped to fund at Royal Papworth Hospital.

An update for our cystic fibrosis patients on the latest information regarding Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco.

Three drugs for cystic fibrosis will soon be available for Royal Papworth Hospital patients after a deal was struck between NHS England and the manufacturer

Royal Papworth becomes first NHS Hospital Trust to be rated 'outstanding' across all five CQC domains

Royal Papworth Hospital's patients are benefiting from a technique that sees them receive their own blood back during cardiac, thoracic and transplant surgery.

Hospital staff, patients and supporters ride from London to Paris to raise thousands for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease affecting more than 30,000 people in the UK. There is currently no cure.

Results from Royal Papworth's Governor Elections announced

Some of the Critical Care team that looked after the Paralympic swimmer in 2014 were invited to surprise her at the London 2019 World Para Swimming Championships

Families are being urged to talk about organ donation ahead of the change in law in England in spring 2020

Our thoracic oncology research team celebrated a big milestone this week for the Lung Cancer Indicator Detection (LuCID) study.

It was his last chance to prove that heart transplantation in the UK could work. Here, Sir Terence recalls the opposition, hostility and triumph involved in one of the most major medical breakthroughs of the 20th century.

Keith Castle received the UK's first successful heart transplant in August 1979. His son, Keith Jr, remembers how his dad became an "overnight celebrity".

To mark the 40th anniversary of the UK's first successful heart transplant, performed at Royal Papworth Hospital, the surgeon and the patient’s son are to be reunited.

Alex Stobbs, a Royal Papworth cystic fibrosis patient and Cambridge University student, is set to be made the subject of a new film.

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust announces that Global Healthcare Real Estate Ltd has won the bid to acquire its former hospital site

Royal Papworth has won the award at the British Transplant Games for the fourth consecutive year

Congratulations to our very own Georgia Moule who became Ladies' World Champion at a recent tournament in Ireland.

Royal Papworth Hospital will be taking its biggest-ever team to the 42nd British Transplant Games in Newport this week.

Lesley is one of 39 athletes who will form part of Royal Papworth's biggest-ever team at the Westfield Health British Transplant Games.

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is looking for volunteers to help guide the hospital in its new home.

Black belt kickboxer, Helen Sharp, has raised £3,500 for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity after receiving a double lung transplant last year.

The highest ever number of organ donors have been recorded in 2018/19, despite a drop in the numbers of people eligible to donate.

The Institute will draw together the highest concentration of heart and lung researchers and will be situated next to Royal Papworth Hospital.

Her Majesty The Queen officially opened Royal Papworth’s new hospital today (Tuesday 9 July).

Royal Papworth Hospital has been listed as one of the best-performing hospitals in the country for inpatient experience, according to a new report.

Her Majesty The Queen will officially open the new Royal Papworth Hospital on Tuesday 9 July.

Becky Hair, a physiotherapist at Royal Papworth, has been named as one of Cycling UK’s ‘100 Women in Cycling’ for 2019.

Royal Papworth’s long-standing link with Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service has been recognised with a plaque presentation at the hospital

Royal Papworth cardiologist Dr Sarah Clarke has been elected as the new clinical vice president at the Royal College of Physicians

The Papworth Haemostasis Checklist has improved patient care and saved money, and now it's also been nominated for a national award.

“People say that moving house on its own is stressful enough, well, just before Mike had his heart attack we had put our house on the market"

Items from Royal Papworth's old site in Papworth Everard will be used by UK charities as well as a local school in Cambridgeshire.

Clare Braybrook was 31 weeks pregnant when she was admitted to Royal Papworth Hospital with a life-threatening aortic dissection.

BBC's 'The One Show' will feature two films about Royal Papworth's move to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus.

Margaret Sharpe was the first person to be operated on at Royal Papworth’s new hospital.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary and Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service will temporarily use the old site for training.

A special service to remember and give thanks to organ donors takes place at Ely Cathedral this Sunday

Royal Papworth Hospital celebrates International Nurses Day

After a week of treating people in our new hospital, patients have been sharing their experiences.

Royal Papworth confirms the closure of its hospital in Papworth Everard, but staff will remain on site through until the summer.

The East of England Ambulance Service will now transport emergency heart attack patients to Royal Papworth’s new home on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus instead of the Papworth Everard site.

Royal Papworth Hospital today began its move period to its new hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. 

Royal Papworth Hospital and air ambulance charity Magpas join forces to trial the emergency heart attack pathway at our new hospital. 

The Simon Cooper Foundation is raising funds to buy 24 new exercise bikes for Royal Papworth Hospital.

A group of runners – including many Trust staff – took part in a commemorative run to mark our hospital move and say goodbye to our current site

The 25mm AcQMap tool collects information about the heart’s performance, helping to create more accurate, bespoke treatment.

Professor John Wallwork has been honoured for his contribution to heart and lung transplantation

More than 100 members of the public were given a guided tour of the key areas of the new hospital as part of the Cambridge Science Festival

Mike was the 37th patient to receive a new heart through the hospital’s world-leading DCD programme.

"This is fantastic news because it is another step on the path towards society accepting that organ donation is the norm"

The Royal Papworth Hospital Staff Awards 2019, sponsored by Philips, took place on Thurdsay 14 March

Annabelle, who was born on Wednesday 30 January, is likely to be the final baby born at Royal Papworth’s current site in Papworth Everard

Judges praised the ‘entire hospital staff for a number of reasons, not least completing five transplants in 36 hours'

“The main reason for inviting Will was to showcase the hospital and the technology that will be used to benefit our patients."

The team primarily focuses on maximising patient independence

“We are honoured to be asked to be involved in this international study.”

Marius Berman has been appointed as the Associate National Clinical Lead for Organ Retrieval for NHS Blood and Transplant

The shortlist for the Royal Papworth Staff Awards 2019 has been announced, having been whittled down from 350 nominations

Royal Papworth's PTE service began in 1996 and the hospital remains the only UK centre offering the treatment

John Curtis, who has been treated at Royal Papworth since 2014, says he was 'blown away' by the new hospital's facilities

With three months to go until we move, construction work on our new hospital building is now complete.

Clinicians are aiming to find out if a new method of blood testing can simplify treatment for patients with respiratory failure

A newly published report shows that Royal Papworth Hospital has the best cardiac surgery survival rates in the NHS

Royal Papworth among the best survival rates for thoracic surgery for lung cancer in the country

January 1979 marks four decades since the hospital's first heart transplant

Doctors believe CardioMEMS devices will reduce the risk of long and expensive hospital admissions

Seventy-one heart attack patients have already benefitted from quicker, safer treatment as part of a project to improve cardiology services across the region. 

Secretary arrived at the hospital straight from school in 1953.

Vote for our most caring and compassionate staff member in the Royal Papworth Staff Awards 2019.

Meet the nurses who are updating their knowledge - and bringing new skills back to the hospital.

The interface marks the first ever connection between Lorenzo and the Epic electronic patient record system.

DCD heart transplant programme reaches hospital milestone

The new technique - which was used to remove a chest tumour - had only been performed once before, in China.

Department took top prize in the Tech Project of the Year category at the Health Tech Newspaper Awards 2018.

5-11 November is Occupational Therapy Week 2018

Team successfully treat heart patient's blocked artery using new implant technique.

Along the cycling route, a series of inspirational and educational awareness events are being held for those impacted by Pulmonary Hypertension.

Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, dietitians and radiographers were among the AHPs taking part in a special event.

Results 'not just the best for cardiothoracic surgery in the UK, but the best of any surgical specialty'

Patients described their care at the hospital as “compassionate”, “exceptional” and “creative”.

Hospital unit supporting clinical trials and research studies endorsed by the UK Clinical Research Collaboration.

Transplant patient raises £1,800 for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity.

A mum of three who had a tiny chance of receiving a new heart is recovering from her transplant.

Five patients whose lives were saved in record-breaking 36 hours of transplants urge others to sign NHS Organ Donor Register

Royal Papworth turned out its biggest ever team, with 35 athletes and more than 30 enthusiastic supporters cheering them on.

Visitors commented on how "spacious and modern" the new living areas are.

Last week we hosted 14 year-10 pupils from local schools and colleges as part of a one-week work experience programme.

'We didn’t really think about the fact history had been made with the transplant – we were just delighted with the fact that it had kept dad alive.'

The hospital’s Cystic Fibrosis Unit is planning a series of activities to mark CF Week (18-24 June).

Royal Papworth Hospital is leading the way when it comes to inpatient care, according to a new report released today (Wednesday 13 June).

A new BBC documentary, exploring the past, present and future of Royal Papworth Hospital is due to be screened this month. (15 June 2018)

In 2015 Royal Papworth surgeons successfully performed Europe's first heart transplant using a DCD (Donation after Circulatory Death) donor heart.