NHS Golden Jubilee performs most heart transplants in the UK
Image: Heart transplant patient Lorraine Bowman
NHS Golden Jubilee has performed the most adult heart transplants in the UK over the past year, carrying out 40 life-saving operations through Scotland’s national service.
The Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS), based at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in Clydebank, completed 40 transplants during the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, highlighting the expertise of the national multidisciplinary team and the life-changing impact of organ donation.
Most importantly, the achievement would not have been possible without the generosity of organ donors and their families, whose selfless decisions continue to give patients a second chance at life.
Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for SNAHFS, Jonathan Dalzell, said: “Our multi-disciplinary team is proud to have carried out the highest number of heart transplants in the UK over the past year, but we never lose sight of what ultimately makes transplantation possible. We remain deeply grateful to organ donors and their families for the life-saving, and life-changing, gift they provide.
“Behind every transplant is an extraordinary act of generosity and bravery from a donor and their loved ones. We are incredibly grateful to every donor family who, during unimaginably difficult circumstances, make the decision to give others the gift of life.”
Lorraine Bowman (pictured above), a former midwife from Bellshill in Lanarkshire, received a heart transplant last year and is grateful for her second chance at life.
She was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of heart failure, when pregnant with daughter Hayley, who is now 34 and also a nurse.
Lorraine was actually on shift when the first heart transplant in Scotland took place at Glasgow’s Royal Infirmary in January 1992. It was also the time when Lorraine’s heart problems were first noticed.
The 60-year-old was also told it was not likely she would have any other children, but she and husband John went on to have son Jack 5 years later, and now have 2 grandchildren as well.
Lorraine said: “I had a defibrillator fitted around 2001 and things were fine until there was a slow progression of heart failure over a number of years, but I was on a recent holiday and I had to come home as my defibrillator was firing quite a lot.
“I was then put on the transplant list and was on that for about a year and it was a really tough time for the family and myself.
“But since my transplant my life has definitely improved so much. Before I was terrified to do things, but now I can make plans, go shopping, take my grandchildren to the park, just simple things I couldn’t do before.
“I’ve even joined the Heart Transplant Active – Scotland team that is competing at the UK Transplant Games next week (6-9 August), so we’re all really looking forward to that.
“It’s just been amazing being given this second chance at life and I can’t thank the brave organ donor and their family enough for what they have given me and my family.”
The Golden Jubilee transplant milestone reflects the dedication of clinical and support staff from across the transplant multidisciplinary team.
This includes surgeons, cardiologists, transplant coordinators, nurses, anaesthetists, perfusionists, operating theatre teams, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists, dieticians, critical care staff, allied health professionals, laboratory teams and many others who work around the clock to deliver complex transplant care.
Carolynne O’Connor, NHS Golden Jubilee Chief Executive, said: “To have performed 40 heart transplants in a year and to be the leading heart transplant centre in the UK is an outstanding achievement for our national service.
“This achievement reflects the collective efforts of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team working across the entire transplant pathway, from donation and retrieval through to surgery, recovery and long-term follow-up care.
“The milestone is also a testament to their skill, commitment and compassion. Their dedication enables patients from across Scotland to access world-class, life-saving care and the opportunity to enjoy more time with their families and loved ones.”
Since Scotland’s first heart transplant was carried out in January 1992, almost 600 patients have benefited from the national service. Advances in surgical techniques, technology and organ preservation continue to improve outcomes and create more opportunities for transplantation.
Additional information:
The heart transplant service in Scotland started in 1992 at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and moved to the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital in 2008, following the creation of the national and regional specialist heart and lung centre at the Clydebank site.
280 heart transplants were carried out at Glasgow Royal Infirmary up until 2008, while NHS Golden Jubilee has carried out 314 transplants up to 31 March 2026 since 2008.
NHS Golden Jubilee is encouraging people to continue having conversations about organ donation with their families, helping to ensure more patients can receive the life-saving transplants they need in the future.
For more information on organ donation, visit: https://www.organdonation.scot/
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