Top transplant official slams NHS leadership over stagnant heart and lung program

A leaked correspondence from Professor Derek Manas, medical director of NHS Blood and Transplant, sharply rebuked NHS England for a transplant system plagued by fragmented accountability, exhausted staff and frequent last-minute cancellations. He pointed out that heart and lung transplant volumes have remained flat for 30 years and that waiting periods can stretch from eight months to over four years, reflecting mismatches between organ supply, hospital capacity and theatre availability.

Manas warned that half of the six UK heart and lung centres have lost their lead surgeons in the past two years, attributing the trend to poor workforce planning and reliance on goodwill. He urged a comprehensive overhaul, including granting NHS Blood and Transplant commissioning powers across the UK. NHS England acknowledged the challenges, stating it is implementing programmes to boost transplant numbers, reduce regional variation and improve patient access.