Record number of heart transplants carried out in Golden Jubilee
It's being hailed as a 'landmark' year for the procedure, which has recorded the most operations in a single year since 1995
Specialist doctors in Scotland have carried out a record number of heart transplants in the past year, the Scottish Government has said.
Medics at the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank carried out 40 of the procedures in 2022-23.
The previous record was 34 in a single year, recorded before the service moved to the Clydebank-based hospital in 1995-96.
'Remarkable achievement'
The Government said the advancements in technology and technique, as well as the Scottish Government change to an opt-out system for organ donation, had led to doctors being able to transplant hearts after the circulatory death of the donor, increasing the number of organs that can be used to save lives and increasing the 90-day survival rate to 95%.
Key to this was the use of a machine described as a "heart in a box" which is used to transport the organ, but continues to pump blood through it, meaning transport can take longer than the previous four-hour target.
Health Secretary Michael Matheson said: "It is a remarkable achievement to perform 40 life-saving operations in a year and my thanks go to all the staff at the heart transplant unit for their skill and dedication in making this happen - it is truly life-saving for the patients.
"The unit has gone from strength to strength since its launch more than 30 years ago and with today's medical advances it is amazing so many people being given a new lease of life.
"We must also remember the donors, and we thank each and every one of them and their families for their gift of life."
Life-saving operation
Harry Prentice was just 18 years old when he had a heart transplant - he is celebrating his tenth anniversary this summer.
He said: "I'm moving on to do a course at college now, I'm going to find employment soon, and these are all opportunities that I never would've had.
"In all honestly, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for my donor.
"I've had no complications in the last ten years after the surgery and I think it's fantastic that the Jubilee are able to do what they do now to save people's lives.
"Heart failure is starting to become a larger part of Scottish health, which needs to be looked at closely.
"It's great to see the success and funding coming to the Golden Jubilee."
'Always get yourself checked'
Harry added that his initial symptoms were not dissimilar to food poisoning and easily could have been overlooked.
He said: "The saving grace was that my little brother noticed that I had been gurgling in my sleep because I had fluid behind my lungs.
"That's what saved my life, otherwise I would've died within a couple of weeks.
"Always get yourself checked if you have concerns, no matter how menial it is - don't pass it off as something else."
Jonathan Dalzell, a consultant cardiologist and the clinical lead at the SNAHFS, said the past year was "a landmark" for the service, crediting the "extraordinary teamwork, expertise and dedication of everyone involved".