Leading doctor rebukes NHS chiefs over transplants
NHS Blood and Transplant's medical director says waiting lists for organ operations are unfair but leaders are not solving the issue.
A top UK heart and lung transplant doctor has criticized NHS bosses for a range of issues in transplant services and called for a major overhaul, according to a leaked letter. Professor Derek Manas, medical director of NHS Blood and Transplant, blamed NHS England for creating a system with an exhausted workforce, little accountability and frequent last-minute cancellations.
Despite NHS England's claim to be working hard to improve the life-saving services, Manas highlighted a lack of coordination, waiting list discrepancies, and an inadequate workforce. The doctor pointed out that the UK, once a heart and lung transplantation leader, now lags behind Western nations in these procedures, while offering better kidney transplants.
Manas criticized the NHS for not investing in modern technology enough and for operating with limited hospital theatre space, intensive care beds and staff. He also noted that half of the six UK heart and lung transplant centres have lost their top surgeon in the last two years. Manas called for NHS England to commission services across the UK, enabling patients to be swiftly moved to receive necessary organs, rather than cancelling transplants due to capacity issues.
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