Seven lives have been saved thanks to a bumper week of emergency transplant activity at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
Four heart and three lung transplants took place here at our hospital in seven days earlier this year.
Two of the heart transplants also involved surgery to remove a BiVAD (biventricular assist device), which is a mechanical device that supports patients in end-stage heart failure.
Both of these patients were also listed as ‘super urgent’, which is the highest level of escalation for people waiting for a transplant, meaning they are among the sickest in the country.
An operating theatre at Royal Papworth Hospital
Paul Lincoln, Lead Nurse for Transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Transplants are emergency surgery, which means we are always on-call so that we can respond when a suitable donor organ becomes available. It was a very busy week, but very productive with multiple life-saving operations for patients who were extremely sick.
“Hundreds of people are involved in the care of one patient. This simply is not possible without all of our teams at Royal Papworth playing their part, from theatres to critical care and our surgical ward. Thank you to everyone.”
Royal Papworth is the UK's biggest adult heart and lung transplant hospital, performing more transplants in 2023/24 (79) than any other centre.
We also have the shortest average waiting times from being placed on the waiting list to receiving a transplant:
· 185 days for a heart transplant, compared to a UK average of 867 days
· 267 days for a lung transplant, compared to a UK average of 537 days
Mr Marius Berman, Surgical Lead for Transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, commented:
“I would like to add my thanks to everyone in the hospital who stepped up, cross-covered other services and responsibilities in order to help all of this emergency activity to take place.”
“It also isn’t possible without the gift of organ donation. For these seven people to live, seven people had expressed a wish to be an organ donor when they die, and made sure their families were aware of that decision.”
Progress is recovering well after her transplant at Royal Papworth Hospital
All seven patients are doing well in their recovery.
One of those is Progress Mushonga, a 49-year old mum and grandmother from Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
In 2008 Progress was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy – a general term for diseases of the heart muscle which affects its ability to pump blood around the body.
Treatment had been effective at controlling her symptoms until 2017, when she was also diagnosed with fluid retention. This is a common symptom of worsening heart failure that occurs when the heart doesn’t pump effectively, causing excess fluid to build up in the body.
A series of cardiac-related admissions to Southend University Hospital followed over the coming years which included a pacemaker being fitted, a three week stay in hospital and other health complications as a result of her deteriorating cardiovascular health.
Progress was then referred to specialists at Royal Papworth in September 2024.
It was here that, after assessment, she was advised that her heart failure was so severe that a heart transplant was the best option to improve her quality of life.
Progress explained: “Being told I would need a transplant was a lot to take in, however it was explained very clearly to me and it felt very reassuring to have that specialist professional opinion.
“After speaking with family, I agreed this was the best way forward.”
In December 2024, Progress passed out in hospital in Southend and was swiftly transferred to Royal Papworth.
With her condition deteriorating further she was placed on the UK’s ‘super-urgent’ transplant list and cared for in critical care, where she was put on a BiVAD (biventricular assist device).
This acts as a bridge to transplant, giving more time for a donor organ to become available.
In January a suitable donor heart became available and she underwent her transplant operation, carried out by a multidisciplinary surgical team. After rehab first in critical care and then on the surgical ward, she recently returned home to continue her recovery.
Progress (centre) with her husband and one of her two daughters, at Royal Papworth Hospital
Progress continued: “The care I’ve received at Royal Papworth Hospital is something else. The staff have been amazing, they are very thorough and you can really feel the passion in everything they do.
“It’s been quite a journey for me but I now have a real sense of peace.
“I’m most looking forward to being back at home with my family. As a mother you always find yourself busy doing things, but I know I’ll have to be cautious as I continue my recovery.
“I’d like to thank everyone at Royal Papworth Hospital and the wider NHS for their help and support in my care. I’d also like to thank the donor’s family for making the decision to donate at a difficult time - I will be forever grateful.”
Progress with representatives from Royal Papworth Hospital's multidisciplinary transplant team
Although the law around organ donation changed in England in 2020 to an ‘opt out’ system, families continue to be approached before organ donation goes ahead. It therefore remains important to talk to your family and ensure they know your organ donation decision.
Register your decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register.