Shortage of heart valve donations in Wales affecting children and adults
The NHS says they could not supply around 20% of heart valve requests from hospitals last year in England and Wales
The NHS is appealing for donations after a drop in heart valve donation which is affecting care for adults and children.
The NHS could not supply around 20% of heart valve requests from hospitals last year:
NHS Blood and Transplant is a joint England and Wales Special Health Authority says heart valve replacements are 'a lifesaving or life changing treatment for people whose own heart valves are damaged, diseased or defective.
"They can be needed by adults whose heart valves begin to narrow or leak or they can be needed by children and adults with genetic heart disorders."
More than half the heart valves issued by the NHS were sent to children’s hospitals'
Every year, thousands of children are born with congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect worldwide.
Congenital heart disease affects approximately 1 in 100 live births. Many of these young patients require life-saving surgery throughout adulthood. In some cases, their best chance for survival and long-term health comes from donated human heart valves and conduits.
Jerry Peachey from Bridgend in Wales needed a heart valve to replace one that was critically narrowed and potentially infected.
The 34-year-old was going to the gym and working in a physically demanding job as a manager in a busy warehouse.
But as his condition got worse, he started to struggle to even pick up his children’s toys from the floor.
“I would often feel faint and out of breath,”
“I would often feel faint and out of breath,” said the dad of two. “I couldn’t play with the kids or take them out. “
Jerry’s heart valve was supplied by NHSBT and replaced during around nine hours of open heart surgery in July 2025.
It was the fourth valve procedure he’s needed since birth, due to a heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot.
If left untreated, Tetralogy of Fallot causes eventual heart failure.
The new heart valve means that blood can now flow more easily to his lungs and reduce the strain on his heart.
“It has made a massive difference,” said Jerry. “I’m already showing positive signs of recovery. I look forward to picking up my newborn and my three-year old-again.
“If I could speak to the donor’s family, I would like for them to know how this has made such a difference to me and my family. Without the transplant, I would have gone downhill quickly. I’d like to thank the family of the donor for making this possible.”
There has been a drop in heart valve donations over recent years:
In 2021, around 600 hearts were donated to the three heart valve banks. In 2024, only 368 were donated. NHSBT, one of the three banks, targets nine donations a week but last year received only four a week.
The NHS is asking people to support tissue donation on the NHS Organ Donor Register and to support heart valve donation if a loved one dies in circumstances where donation is possible.