More beds and new facilities for Cambridge Transplant Unit

The Cambridge Transplant Unit at Addenbrooke’s Hospital has moved to newly-refurbished wards, with upgraded facilities and additional specialist beds. Former patient Peter Pemberton – who received a liver transplant at the hospital in 1996 – unveilled a plaque at the unit’s official opening on Wednesday 16 June.

Dr Mary Archer, Mr Peter Pemberton, Prof Andrew Bradley

Previously, the unit had beds for 22 transplant patients together with a four-bedded high dependency area. The move increases the number of transplant beds to 28 and expands the high dependency area to six beds.

Professor Andrew Bradley, Clinical Director of Transplant Surgery, said: “Transplants are a miracle of modern medicine. They are the best possible treatment for people with end-stage organ failure. Our patients often spend a lot of time in hospital, both around the time of their surgery and during other periods of illness – and these new facilities will let us provide the best specialist care and support.”

The Cambridge Transplant Unit was established over 40 years ago, and cares for patients both before and after their transplant. A team of surgeons carries out kidney, liver, small bowel, pancreas and multi-organ transplants – and Addenbrooke’s is the only hospital in the UK to provide complex multi-visceral transplants. These involve the small bowel and liver together with the stomach, duodenum, pancreas or colon.

Laura Fasching, transplant patient

Peter Pemberton said: “I’ve spent 26 weeks in the Transplant Unit over the course of three operations, and I always feel incredibly safe there as a patient. They know how to look after me – and they’re particularly kind to my wife and family. The new facilities are fantastic – very modern and state-of-the-art.”

The Cambridge Transplant Unit’s new home is on wards F5 and G5. In 2009/10, Addenbrooke’s Hospital carried out 149 kidney transplants, of which 41 were living donations; 70 liver transplants; 24 combined kidney and pancreas transplants; and five small bowel transplants.

Transplant patient Laura Fasching (pictured), a 21-year old student from Cambridge, is an in-patient at the new unit and is awaiting a liver from a suitable donor. Talking about her first liver transplant at Addenbrooke's Hospital in 1989 she said: "I was 11 months old and the operation saved my life. The new unit is so much better than before."

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