20 patients whose lives were saved by non-beating heart transplants celebrate anniversary at Royal Papworth Hospital

Twenty patients who underwent non-beating heart transplants have returned to Royal Papworth Hospital to celebrate a decade since the pioneering operation that saved their lives was first introduced.

Previously, donor hearts had only been available from people who had died a brain-stem death (DBD), but whose hearts were still beating.

But in February 2015, the hospital became the first in Europe to perform a transplant using a non-beating heart.

It transplants hearts from donors after their heart has stopped functioning - something known as donation after circulatory death (DCD).

Teams at Royal Papworth in Cambridge have now performed 134 DCD heart transplants - the highest of any UK centre and one of the highest in the world.

Among the 20 recipients who were reunited in Cambridge with the NHS teams who helped to save their lives was Annette Tremlin, 68.

She became one of the first people in the UK to receive a DCD heart transplant in June 2015.

“It has been amazing to see people that I’ve not seen for the last 10 years that are still healthy and living good quality lives,” she said. “The biggest thing my transplant has allowed me to do is watch my grandchildren grow up. All six of them were under five years old when I had my transplant and my biggest fear at that time was that I wouldn’t be part of their lives. Now they’re teenagers and it’s just amazing.

“Heart failure stops you in your tracks. Transplant has allowed me to live a normal life again.”

Liam Kay, 35, from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, was the 106th recipient when he received his DCD heart transplant in 2022.

He has since returned to work for a national hotel chain as a pricing analyst.

“Having my transplant allowed me to go back to work, and nearly three years on I am able do everything that I could do before my transplant,” he said. “I actually started salsa dancing twice a week, too. It was never something I wanted to do before. My brother started and I thought I’d give it a go too. I wouldn’t have been able to do this prior to my transplant - I was far too sick.”

This technique was introduced following years of research led by Royal Papworth surgeons Stephen Large and Steven Tsui, supported by funding from Royal Papworth Charity.

Consultant cardiac surgeon Mr Large said: “It has been wonderful to see some of our first DCD heart patients living healthy and fulfilling lives.

“We would not have been able to do this without them putting their trust in us, so thank you.

“We also cannot do what we do without the gift of organ donation. People agreeing to donate their organs, and sharing that wish their loved ones, is so important. Families will always be consented before donation happens, so it is crucial that people know your wishes.”

Maurice Millanaise, 71, from Croydon in south London, who had his operation in 2017, was previously a project manager for a Japanese bank and is now a volunteer for the National Trust.

“Today has been excellent, meeting other recipients and staff. I knew a couple of people here but otherwise it has been great to meet new people, all of whom have the same conversations about how well they’re feeling post-transplant,” he said.

“I love my volunteering as a ranger’s assistant. We’re out cutting down trees, moving logs. It’s very physical and not something I could have done pre-transplant.

“Many of us probably wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Royal Papworth Hospital and DCD heart transplantation.”