Latest news with #SNAHFS
Glasgow Times
30-07-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
New NHS Golden Jubilee class helps heart transplant patients
Launched by the NHS Golden Jubilee, the physiotherapy-led class is designed for patients on the heart transplant waiting list to help maintain their fitness ahead of surgery. The sessions focus on improving physical strength, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being, all in a safe and supportive environment. Eireann Murray, a physiotherapist at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "The aim is to encourage patients to leave the ward, engage in activities, and connect with others who are on a similar journey. "All patients are welcome to join, and participation is entirely voluntary – no one is expected to do anything they're uncomfortable with." The programme is part of the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS), based at the Golden Jubilee, which delivers specialist therapies to patients across Scotland. In 2024/25, SNAHFS carried out 29 heart transplants, following a record-breaking year in 2023/24. So far this year, nine transplants have been performed, with more planned in the coming months. Patients who take part in the exercise class report benefits that go beyond the physical. Andy Gordon, a patient who is participating in the programme, praised the class's straightforward exercises. He had a heart attack in June 2023 and was referred to NHS Golden Jubilee from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he was told he needed a transplant. Andy said: "I would feel lost without coming to these classes twice a week. "The exercises are clear, simple, and easy to understand – the more you attend, the more you improve. "Having an issue which affects your heart knocks your confidence as you don't know how much to push yourself, but with the physios here, they build you up and keep you safe." The class also provides a valuable opportunity for social interaction, helping to reduce isolation and build emotional resilience during a difficult period. Mitchell Lindsay, associate medical director at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "This programme is a vital part of NHS Golden Jubilee's commitment to person-centred care. "It provides tailored support to help individuals improve their fitness, achieve their goals, and feel a sense of connection as they prepare for life-saving and life-changing transplant surgery." Patients receive lifelong aftercare from the SNAHFS team after their transplant. Innovations such as the Organ Care System, also known as Heart in a Box, have improved heart donation opportunities. This technology has contributed to a 95% 90-day survival rate for transplant patients.
Glasgow Times
19-05-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow man who had heart transplant to trek Sahara Desert
Fraser Wilson, 48, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 14 – a condition that eventually led to heart failure. The illness is genetic, having already sadly claimed the lives of his mother. In 2018, Fraser had an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) fitted by the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) team at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital. As his condition worsened, he eventually received a heart transplant at NHS Golden Jubilee — a procedure that has given him a new lease of life. Read more: You could get TRNSMT tickets by taking part in this Glasgow fashion trail (Image: NHS Golden Jubilee) Read more: Company moves into Glasgow office with plans to recruit staff Now, the bank worker is set to trek 100km across southern Morocco over four and a half days, alongside 90 of his colleagues. Fraser said: "I wanted to prove to myself that after having a heart transplant, three years later, I can do anything. "I feel better than ever and grateful for having the opportunity of a heart transplant and the benefit to me has been life-changing, waking up every day with this amazing perspective in life because you're just grateful for still being here. 'You honestly want to start grabbing opportunities as they arise." He has been training rigorously for the trek, including personal sessions at the gym and completing the 14-mile Kiltwalk at the end of April. Fraser is also a member of the Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team and regularly competes in the British Transplant Games. He said: "The Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team is a relatively small team. "Everyone is part of the committee and we're joining with around 3,000 competitors at the British Transplant Games in Oxford later this year. "Being part of the team and the games provides a level of comfort and knowledge that you don't have, like non-transplanted people, so it feels like quite an exclusive group that you're a part of, as well as having that ongoing contact with people with the same experience as you. 'And it's not all about your transplant, we enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun.' Fraser has set a personal fundraising target of £4,000 for his Sahara trek and is also exploring other ways to raise additional funds for the charity Crisis. Jane Lockhart, transplant co-ordinator at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "Being able to look after our patients, like Fraser, and see how their lives improve after a transplant is an absolute privilege for our team. "Fraser's journey highlights the importance of organ donation and shows just how lives can not only be saved but transformed as well. "We'd like to wish Fraser and his colleagues all the best in this amazing adventure.'
