Position Statements
Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery (SCTS) Statement on UK Transplant Services
The Society for Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland (www.scts.org) recognises the concerns highlighted in reporting regarding the current state of cardiothoracic transplant services across the UK.
As the professional body representing cardiothoracic surgeons and their teams, we share the disappointment that, despite dedication and expertise, the organisation and delivery of transplant services are not achieving the standards seen internationally.
Patients deserve timely access to high-quality, life-saving care, and the current system is under significant strain.
While investment in transplantation is acknowledged, there is a perception among clinicians that this is not translating into capacity where it matters most within surgical teams, critical care infrastructure, and perioperative pathways that enable transplantation to occur safely and efficiently.
We are also mindful that the consultant surgeon along with other clinical, and patient voices have not been sufficiently heard in shaping service design and resource allocation. For a service as complex and high stakes as transplantation, meaningful engagement with the right people is essential to achieving sustainable improvement.
In response, SCTS has taken proactive steps to support progress. We have recently established a working group, bringing together expertise from across heart, lung, and mechanical circulatory support services. This group is focused on defining a clear framework for the future of heart & lung transplant services in the UK and Ireland.
This work will:
- Make patient need central.
- Deal with the structural and workforce requirements needed to safely expand transplant activity.
- Develop models that better align funding with clinical delivery.
- Support service configurations that improve access, resilience, and outcomes
- Ensure that innovation and modern perioperative pathways are embedded within future planning.
Our ambition is to develop a system capable of delivering a significant and sustainable increase in transplant activity, while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety and clinical excellence.
We are committed to working collaboratively with healthcare administration, policymakers, and patient representatives to ensure that our heart and lung transplant services evolve to meet both current and future need.
This is a moment for constructive partnership and decisive action.
We need to move away from a system that has led us to a failing and fragile service.
With the right alignment of clinical leadership, infrastructure, and resources, we are confident that heart and lung transplant services can achieve the standards that patients both expect and deserve.
Aman S Coonar
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
SCTS President
Prof. Enoch Akowuah
Consultant Cardiac Surgeon
SCTS President-elect
Doug West
Consultant Thoracic Surgeon
SCTS Honorary Secretary
Prof. Karen Redmond
Consultant Thoracic & Transplant Surgeon
SCTS Honorary Treasurer
Prof. Stephan Schueler
Consultant Cardiac & Transplant Surgeon
SCTS Trustee & co-chair Transplant Committee
Sarah Murray
SCTS Lay member & co-chair Transplant Committee