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The Newcastle Upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust

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15.11.2008 - Journal Live
Sweetest word for a mother to hear
15.11.2008 - The Sun
Premature baby stuns medics
09.11.2008 - The Mirror
Donor flies 4,000 miles to give kidney to brother for Christmas

Patient quote

"A sincere thank you to the staff of wards 25 and 25a for the care and attention Jean received while she recovered from her valve surgery. From admission to discharge she was treated as a special person, nothing appeared too much trouble for those nursing her and their kindness will always be remembered. With grateful thanks" Mr & Mrs CG

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Cardiothoracic Services (Heart and Lung)

Cardiothoracic Services (Heart and Lung)

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery in progress

The Freeman Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Centre was established with two surgeons in a purpose built facility in 1977 and has since expanded to a team of eleven. The first adult heart transplant was carried out in 1985 and two years later we performed the first successful heart transplant for a child in the UK. We are delighted to say that that baby girl has just celebrated the 20th anniversary of her operation! Since then we have performed over 1,200 heart, lung, and heart & lung transplants.

The Freeman Hospital is the only hospital in the country to provide the full range of cardiothoracic surgery for adults and children, including heart and lung transplantation, under one roof. Our facilities include a specially equipped suite of four theatres with access to a large, state-of-the-art intensive care unit for adults, and a separate paediatric intensive care unit to care for children following heart or lung surgery.

Specialist care for patients across the UK and beyond

A key feature of our practice is the referral of patients from other hospitals to be considered for transplantation, as they are thought to be too high risk for routine cardiac surgery. Following assessment at the Freeman Hospital, some of these patients are able to undergo more conventional cardiac surgery rather than risk transplantation.

We have a well established research programme into transplantation techniques, led by Professor John Dark, which means that our patients are often the first to benefit from ground-breaking developments.

In addition to performing the first paediatric heart transplant in the UK in 1987, we also performed the first single and dual lung transplants in Europe, and have recently led the development of the “Berlin Heart” (a mechanical heart) service in the UK.