Scotland’s only NHS Golden Jubilee heart transplant center is expanding to support more patients across Scotland than ever before.
The Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS), based at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, now has a second ward, which will help cope with the increased number of heart transplants after carrying out a record 40 in 2022- 23 – the provider with the highest volume of any UK center during this year.
There were several factors that led to the increase, including innovation in techniques and advances in technology, such as an organ care system (Heart in a Box).
This allows surgeons to transplant hearts from donors dying of circulatory death (DCD), which has increased the availability of hearts for transplantation and also increased the success rate, which is currently at 95% for 90-day survival.
Organ donation registrations have also been higher in Scotland over the past 2 years following the 2021 opt-out law change, which increased awareness of organ donation.
In a momentous year for the NHS Golden Jubilee transplant team, they also celebrated 500u Scottish heart transplantation since the heart failure treatment was introduced in the country in December 1991.
Heart transplant surgeon Simon Messer said: “We are very excited to be opening our new wing and expanding our heart transplant service as we continue to grow and develop for the patients of Scotland.
“There are many factors why there has been an increase in heart transplants in Scotland over the last two years.
“I think one of the main factors is having this dedicated, multidisciplinary and highly skilled team here at NHS Golden Jubilee, which helps us to do more than we could in previous years.
“It’s been a while for a heart transplant in Scotland. Heart transplants not only save lives, they also enhance lives for recipients who often go on to lead much healthier, more active lifestyles.
“Our additional wing can also now help us extend the lives of even more people in Scotland who are living with heart failure and may need a transplant.
“However, all transplants are only possible thanks to the generosity of organ donors and their families.”
Colin Gray (main photo) from Inverness received a new heart last year after 12 years of heart disease and a pacemaker until he became seriously ill and went on the transplant list.
Colin, aged 60, who works for Scottish Water as a spill field technician, said: “I was just struggling to walk anywhere and do things and when I was at my local hospital, Raigmore in Inverness, they told me the only way to move on for me it was a heart transplant.
“It was very scary really, but luckily I was shortlisted and I was very lucky that I didn’t have to wait too long.
“There was a lot of concern, but at the end of the day, I knew that if it was going to improve my quality of life then, as scary as the thought of doing it was, it was something that had to happen. .
“The difference is already incredible and I’m so grateful to be back home and out walking my dogs again, which is just amazing.”
While advances in technology and a change in the exemption law have helped to increase the number of heart transplants in Scotland, they could not take place without the gift of life from donors and their families who have selflessly supported organ donation to enable them to live others.
I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity by the people who put themselves forward to donate organs and I would encourage anyone to do so because it saves and changes lives.”
Colin Gray
