Hospital faces review after spate of fatal transplants

A leading heart hospital is under investigation after four transplant patients died within months of each other, it was revealed today.

Harefield hospital has the reputation of being one of the best heart and lung centres in the world.

But now healthcare officials have been called in to investigate four deaths out of 15 heart transplant operations this year.

The deaths occurred one after another at the hospital between July and last month and within 30 days of surgery.

Independent health watchdog the Healthcare Commission has appointed consultant cardiothoracic surgeon Professor Robert Bonser to conduct the review and it is expected to publish its findings at the end of this month.

Surgeons at Harefield have been told they must not perform any heart transplants unless they seek permission from the review team.

All other operations including lung transplants have been allowed to proceed as normal.

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "Transplant patients are often in pretty bad shape but these deaths are unusual. We're baffled as to the cause but welcome the review as patient safety is a priority." Longer waiting lists for donor organs is one possible cause suggested for the deaths.