Leading doctor rebukes NHS chiefs over transplants
Summary
A senior doctor, Professor Derek Manas, criticized NHS England for problems in heart and lung transplant services, including last-minute operation cancellations and staff burnout. He said the transplant system is poorly managed, causing delays and inefficient use of donated organs, and called for major improvements.Key Facts
- Professor Derek Manas is the medical director of NHS Blood and Transplant.
- NHS England organizes and pays for transplant services but has created a fragmented system with unclear responsibilities.
- The number of heart and lung transplants has not increased in 30 years in England.
- There are frequent last-minute cancellations of transplants due to poor coordination and lack of resources like operating rooms and staff.
- Waiting times for heart transplants vary from eight months to four and a half years depending on the hospital.
- Half of UK heart and lung transplant centers have lost top surgeons in the past two years due to recruitment and retention issues.
- Wales and Northern Ireland have no heart and lung transplant centers, so patients travel to England for surgery.
- NHS England says it is working to improve transplant services but critics say progress is slow.
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