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Heart transplants at Great Ormond Street Hospital

12 November 2008

Without commenting on any individual case we can say the following about heart transplants at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust (GOSH).

We have never taken court action to force a heart transplant. If, after discussions, a family do not want to go ahead with transplant listing we do not force the issue.

Children and their families need to be committed to continued follow up care and be compliant with medications. If a child was forced to have a heart transplant operation, the chance of long term success would be small if the child and family were not committed. At GOSH we stress the need for good compliance with anti-rejection drugs and the need for regular clinic visits.

For most transplant recipients quality of life is good. Most children are able to attend school as normal and can lead active lives.

Dr Mike Burch, Paediatric Cardiologist and Director of Cardiothoracic Transplantation

Contact information:

Hayley Dodman, Great Ormond Street Hospital press office, 020 7239 3126

email: dodmah@gosh.nhs.uk

For genuine and urgent out of hours call speak to switchboard on 020 7405 9200

Notes to editors

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust is the country’s leading centre for treating sick children, with the widest range of specialists under one roof.

With the UCL Institute of Child Health, we are the largest centre for paediatric research outside the US and play a key role in training children’s health specialists for the future.

Our charity needs to raise £50 million every year to help rebuild and refurbish Great Ormond Street Hospital, buy vital equipment and fund pioneering research. With your help we provide world class care to our very ill children and their families.

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