Clydebank’s hospital is enhancing its reputation as the only heart transplant centre in Scotland by opening up a second ward.

The Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS), based at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, is expanding to support more patients across the country than ever before.

The new ward will help cope with the increased amount of heart transplants after the Dalmuir site carried out a record number of 40 in 2022-23 - the highest volume provider of any UK centre over that year.

And heart transplant surgeon at the Golden Jubilee Simon Messer explained it will allow him and his team to continue to save lives.

He said: “We are very excited about the opening of our new ward and expansion of the heart transplant service, as we continue to grow and evolve for the patients of Scotland.

“There are many factors as to why there has been an increase in heart transplants in Scotland over the past couple of years.

“I think one of the main factors is having this dedicated, multidisciplinary and very skilled team in place here at NHS Golden Jubilee, which is helping us to do more than we were able to in previous years.

“It has been quite a year for heart transplantation in Scotland. Heart transplants not only save lives, they also enhance lives for the recipients who often go on to lead a much healthier, more active lifestyle.

“Our additional ward can also now help us extend the lives of even more people in Scotland who are living with heart failure and may need a transplant.

“However, all transplantation is only possible thanks to the generosity of organ donors and their families.”

There have been several factors which have led to the increase in transplant numbers, including innovation in techniques and advancements in technology, such as an Organ Care System (Heart in a Box).

This allows surgeons to transplant hearts from donors who die after circulatory death (DCD), which has increased the availability of hearts for transplant and also boosted the success rate, which is currently at 95 per cent for 90-day survival.

Registration for organ donation has also been higher in Scotland over the last 2 years following the opt-out change in the law in 2021, which has increased awareness of organ donation.

In what was a momentous year for the transplant team at NHS Golden Jubilee, they also celebrated carrying out the 500th Scottish heart transplant since the heart failure treatment was introduced in the country in December 1991.