NHS trial of organ preservation machines could enable 750 more transplants yearly

Credit: XVIVO Perfusion AB 2026/NHSBT

By Jane Kirby, PA and Claudia Tanner

Up to 750 more organ transplants could be carried out every year thanks to preservation techniques being trialled by NHS doctors.

Several major hospitals in England are running a pilot to keep donor organs preserved for longer so checks can be carried out to see whether they are suitable for transplant.

If successful, it would lead to the first full national network in the world for reconditioning organs – and a 19% rise in annual transplants compared to current figures.

This could include up to 202 more liver transplants being carried out, up to 202 more lung transplants and up to 345 additional kidney transplants.

At present, there is not always enough time to carry out tests on organs before they need to be used and doctors are not always confident about accepting them for operations.

Perfusion allows circulation of oxygenated blood or nutrient-rich fluids through organs, preserving their function and enabling more time for them to be assessed.