Separating conjoined twins Safa and Marwa

15 Jul 2019, 2:33 p.m.

Safa and Marwa

Great Ormond Street Hospital is internationally renowned for being one of only a few hospitals in the world to have the infrastructure, facilities and team of experts to take on one of medicine’s most challenging conditions – separating twins who are conjoined.GOSH has successfully treated more conjoined twins than any other hospital in the world, with the infrastructure and knowledge to give these twins the best chance of survival and recovery.

Meet Safa and Marwa

The twins were born in January 2017, conjoined at the head – known as ‘craniopagus’ twins. The family did not know that it was a twin pregnancy, so they were a bit of a surprise when they arrived!

Safa and Marwa

After consultation with their doctors in Pakistan, Great Ormond Street Hospital welcomed them to Bumblebee Ward in autumn 2018 and set about a four month four-stage separation process involving multiple specialities across the hospital – from craniofacial, neurology and psychology experts, to nurses, radiologists and physiotherapists.

To understand how the GOSH team helped Safa and Marwa begin independent lives, watch our animation explaining the process step-by-step.

After a period of recuperation and intensive physiotherapy at GOSH, the twins left hospital in July 2019 and are now recovering well at home with their family. Despite the many challenges ahead, the team at the hospital are hopeful that they will both live happy and active lives.

The team

Meet the clinicians involved in Safa and Marwa’s treatment.

You can read more about the twin’s story in this special BBC report.

Toddler who spent life in hospital is thriving after life-saving transplant

A family who spent the best part of 13 months in hospital praise their ‘new family’ at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), who cared for their son while he waited for a life-saving heart transplant.

Scientists discover clues to help children with rare muscle disease

New ground-breaking research by experts at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and University College London (UCL) has led to an exciting discovery that could help children with the rare muscle disease, juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM).

GOSH-led trial of AI-scribe technology shows ‘transformative’ benefits for patients and clinicians across London

A major GOSH-led study has found that AI-scribing technology can significantly reduce clinician workload while improving patient care

GOSH marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Join us in the Lagoon on 3, 4 and 30 September between 11am and 2pm for a range of activities to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.