Heart transplants halted after seven die at Papworth Hospital

A spokesman for the pioneering hospital in Cambridgeshire confirmed it had launched an investigation after seven of 20 adult patients - 35 per cent - died within 30 days of surgery in the first ten months of the year.

Typically, only 10 per cent of patients - or two in this case - would be expected to die within that period.

Papworth, one of six pioneering heart transplant centres, employs ten surgeons. Their records will now be closely examined.

Steve Bridge, the hospital's chief executive, said: "It's expected 10 per cent of heart transplant patients die within 30 days. We've been around 7 per cent, so below the national average.

"We are talking comparatively small numbers but it was agreed it would be sensible for us to invite the Healthcare Commission to undertake an external review.

"If there are any improvements we will implement them."

A spokesman added: "Should an urgent case arise, clinicians in Papworth will discuss with the external advisers involved how to manage patients.

"Heart transplants are inherently high-risk complex procedures performed on a small number of patients and the number of operations likely to be affected is therefore small."

Lung transplants and other heart procedures, including bypass surgery, are unaffected by the suspension and will go ahead as normal, he confirmed.

The results of the review, which is likely to take at least two weeks, will be sent to the Chief Medical Officer.

Around 1,500 heart transplants have been carried out at Papworth since 1979.

The suspension mirrors events at St George's Hospital in Tooting, South London, a decade ago where there was also concern at the level of heart transplant deaths.

A report in 2002 found that, over a ten-month period, eight out of 11 heart transplant patients died within 90 days.