Royal Papworth Hospital

Royal Papworth Hospital Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is the UK's leading heart and lung hospital
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Royal Papworth Hospital is one of the largest specialist heart and lung hospitals in Europe and a world leader in transplantation. Based on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, the hospital has a reputation for research and innovation, the basis on which it achieved royal status in 2018. In 2019 it was rated 'outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission and was the first hospital trust in the UK to receive this top rating in the five main categories that the CQC assesses. With an extraordinary commitment to delivering the highest levels of clinical expertise and patient care, more than 50,000 patients are treated at the hospital each year as inpatients, outpatients or day cases. Royal Papworth Hospital’s services are internationally recognised and include cardiology, respiratory medicine, sleep medicine, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery and heart & lung transplantation. It is also one of five hospitals in England commissioned to provide ECMO for patients in severe respiratory failure and is a national centre for services provided nowhere else in the UK, including balloon pulmonary angioplasty and pulmonary endarterectomy.

When a CT scanner became unavailable in our radiology department, Kevin was one of those who sprang into action to help ...
12/03/2026

When a CT scanner became unavailable in our radiology department, Kevin was one of those who sprang into action to help minimise disruption. 👏

A radiology assistant practitioner who has worked at Royal Papworth for eight years, Kevin and the team started early, scanning inpatients alongside scheduled outpatients, ahead of the list of interventional cases which can take longer.

Their teamwork and dedication throughout the day eased pressure on our remaining scanner and ensured that all outstanding scans, including complex inpatient cases, were completed.

Kevin said: “We’re such a diverse team with people from different backgrounds and I admire how we use this opportunity to view challenges from different perspectives and give the team new tools to solve tasks.”

For his proactive support, Kevin received a Laudit via our positive incident reporting system. He was then one of five winners selected at random for our monthly Laudit draw.

He added: “I come to work every day and try to do a good job and help my colleagues give the best care to our patients, so I really appreciate their recognition of me and my dedication to our department and the hospital. I love my job, and I love it a little more now.”

“I've worked at other hospitals but there's something special about Royal Papworth. It's one of those rare places you just feel a sense of belonging. I’m really proud to work in a world-renowned hospital that provides exceptional care for patients.”

Thank you Kevin and everyone in radiology for this excellent display of collaboration. 💙

Hear more from Kevin and our latest Laudit winners here: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/our-hospital/latest-news/congratulations-our-december-laudit-winners

Helping to catch lung cancer early and save lives 🫁 When Jane (71) and her husband received a text inviting them for lun...
11/03/2026

Helping to catch lung cancer early and save lives 🫁

When Jane (71) and her husband received a text inviting them for lung cancer screening in November last year, they didn’t think much of it.

The couple from Cambridgeshire had been identified as smokers from their GP history.

Jane had smoked since her teens but had mostly switched to va**ng in recent years, alongside two or three ci******es a day. 🚬

They attended a scan in a mobile unit in their local Tesco car park and were told their results would come either by letter or phone.

“I assumed a letter would be good news and a phone call would be bad news,” Jane said.
“My husband got a letter, and I got a phone call.”

Further tests at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed Jane had lung cancer which came as a huge shock to her.

“I know it sounds stupid because I have a smoking history, but I didn’t have any symptoms.”

She was referred to Royal Papworth Hospital, where a biopsy showed a tumour at the bottom of her right lung and nodules at the top of her left lung. Thankfully, the cancer had been caught early and hadn’t spread.

“The support I’ve received from staff at Royal Papworth has been amazing,” said Jane.
“I never felt judged - no one ever said, ‘it's your fault because you smoked’.”

Jane was assigned a specialist nurse who even called her on Christmas Eve when she was feeling overwhelmed.

In January, she had surgery to successfully remove 40% of her right lung. She will soon begin five sessions of radiotherapy for her left lung.

“I’m so glad I went for that screening. I was told my cancer was stage one and very treatable.

“Bizarrely, I thought I was avoiding trouble because I was va**ng, which was wrong.”

Her message to others on national No Smoking Day? 🚭

“If you’re invited for lung cancer screening - go. It might just save your life.”

Come and meet our teams 👋The Cambridge Biomedical Campus Spring Careers Fair takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 11 March (1...
10/03/2026

Come and meet our teams 👋

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus Spring Careers Fair takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 11 March (14:00 to 19:00) and if you’re looking for a new challenge or hoping to take the first step in a rewarding carer in health or science, then this is a great place to start.

Held at the Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology it's an opportunity for job seekers of all backgrounds and levels to meet a wide range of employers across technology, admin, biochemistry and healthcare, including representatives from Royal Papworth.

Available at our stand tomorrow will be individuals from the following teams:
- Throughout – Nursing
- 14:30-15:00 - Occupational therapy and dietetics
- 15:00-16:00 – Pharmacy
- 16:00-17:00 – Physiotherapy
- 17:00-18:00 - Medical

There are also free workshops held throughout the event, covering topics such as how to apply for a job in the NHS, interview tips and how to identify your strengths and present them with confidence.

It's completely free to attend and you don't have to book.

Charles continuing Maggie’s legacy 💙🫀Twice a week Charles volunteers on our wards, engaging with patients. His approach ...
09/03/2026

Charles continuing Maggie’s legacy 💙🫀

Twice a week Charles volunteers on our wards, engaging with patients. His approach is gentle and intuitive.

“If someone is watching television, I give them a smile and if they smile back at me, that’s my invitation,” he explains.

“You’ve broken the barrier. This gives patients the chance to talk to someone outside of their health care team. I just want to know how they’re getting on and sometimes, it’s about helping people feel less alone.”

Charles’ connection to Royal Papworth runs deep. His late wife, Maggie received a heart transplant in 2002.

Following her recovery, Maggie embraced life fully, joining the Royal Papworth transplant sports team and later becoming its manager for 15 years. She also volunteered on the wards, supporting transplant patients and their families.

Having supported Maggie throughout her transplant journey, Charles understands first-hand what it means for patients and families waiting for a transplant.

After Maggie passed away in 2022, Charles made the decision to continue that spirit of giving back. “Her legacy was me carrying on - I needed something to do, and this means a lot to me.”

Through his volunteering, Charles has become part of the wider Royal Papworth community. He enjoys seeing familiar faces in our outpatients waiting area and supporting patients at different stages of their journey.

“It’s so easy to communicate with patients and I think it makes a real difference.”

When he is not volunteering, he enjoys a game of table tennis and he recently celebrated his 80th birthday and enjoyed a slice of cake with colleagues.

Thank you Charles, and to all our volunteers, for your compassion, dedication and the kindness you bring to our patients every day.

Discover more about our current volunteering opportunities at Royal Papworth: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/working-here/volunteer

Matron Kate Borne participated in the foundation of Papworth and remained matron for 28 years.She not only maintained hi...
08/03/2026

Matron Kate Borne participated in the foundation of Papworth and remained matron for 28 years.

She not only maintained high-levels of nursing at the hospital but also created and managed a welfare fund that supported patients and their relatives in various ways.

Our 1930 annual report mentions providing “birthday cakes for very sick young patients”, “provision of materials for occupational therapy”, “gifts to patients without income: also loans to patients for travelling expenses” and “hospitality to patient’s relatives”.

This emphasis on welfare and individual care was a key part of what made Papworth pioneering and successful - things we continue to strongly believe in today. 🫶🏻

And while not a direct comparison, there are certainly similarities between the matron’s welfare fund and the incredible work, opportunities and support that Royal Papworth Hospital Charity has funded in the past 30 years.

On International Women’s Day we celebrate not just Matron Borne but the countless strong and talented women who have contributed to our hospital’s excellence, compassion and innovation for more than a century. 💙

He did it 🫶 Two years after collapsing with a cardiac arrest close to the finish line, George was back at the Cambridge ...
08/03/2026

He did it 🫶

Two years after collapsing with a cardiac arrest close to the finish line, George was back at the Cambridge Half Marathon today, now with his ICD (implantable cardioverter defibrillator).

Thanks to timely CPR in 2024 by three people, including our cardiologist Dr Greg Mellor, George was resuscitated and taken to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust before being transferred to our hospital, where Dr Mellor then led a multidisciplinary team to fit a state-of-the-art ICD.

ICDs are battery operated devices which have wires going to your heart. They are able to deliver an electrical shock to the heart during a life threatening heart rhythm disturbance. But George's ICD does this without needing to place leads inside the heart or veins.

George is back running and today he finished the 13.1-mile run. Incredible mental strength from George and a powerful reminder of the importance of timely CPR during cardiac arrest.

George - you are amazing 💪🏽💙

📸 Photo 1: George pictured with Dr Mellor, who also ran the half marathon (in a ridiculously quick time)!

📸 Photo 2: Cardiology nurses Lucy, Ella, Vicky & Maria

📸 Photo 3: Some of the fabulous Team Royal Papworth runners raising money for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity - thank you so much!!

08/03/2026

Just some of the 100 incredible people running the Cambridge Half Marathon for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity today!

Patients, staff, friends and family who have together raised more than £50,000 between them.

This money helps to support us transform what is possible for patients with heart and lung conditions, and to deliver outstanding care by building thriving teams.

You are all amazing - thank you so much for running for our hospital charity 💪🏼🫶🏾

Good luck to all our runners in the Cambridge half marathon 🏃🏃‍♂️🎽More than 100 colleagues, patients, friends and family...
06/03/2026

Good luck to all our runners in the Cambridge half marathon 🏃🏃‍♂️🎽

More than 100 colleagues, patients, friends and family will be representing at the Cambridge half marathon this Sunday.

Runners will take on the 13.1-mile course through the historic streets of Cambridge, passing its world-famous colleges and along the scenic roads of Cambridgeshire.

Together our runners have already raised an incredible £45,000 in sponsorship for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity. You can check out many of their individual stories on the charity’s page. 🙌

Included within them is 30 members of staff, including a 20-strong contingent from our cardiac physiology team, surgeons Marius Berman and David Jenkins, cardiac arrhythmia specialist nurse Maria and representatives from our ACHD, digital and theatre teams.

Our charity team will be at the event village on Midsummer Common and at three dedicated cheer points along the route. If you’re coming to watch friends or family take on the half marathon, it will be great to see you at mile 6.2 (Wolfson College), mile 11 (Belvoir Terrace) and mile 12.6 (Park Parade).

Best of luck to everyone taking part and thank you for supporting Royal Papworth. 💙

Returning to the Cambridge half, two years after a cardiac arrest there 🫀⚡Good luck to George, an architecture student f...
05/03/2026

Returning to the Cambridge half, two years after a cardiac arrest there 🫀⚡

Good luck to George, an architecture student from Loughborough, who is back in Cambridge this weekend for the half marathon, two years after suffering a cardiac arrest as he approached the finish line at the 2024 event.

George was saved by three passing NHS doctors, including Dr Greg Mellor, a consultant cardiologist here at Royal Papworth. Thanks to their quick actions in delivering immediate CPR, his heart restarted without the need for a defibrillator.

George would go on to have a defibrillator implanted at our hospital, remarkably by a team led by Dr Mellor, to protect him from future sudden cardiac arrests.

Looking ahead to this Sunday's event, George added: "I’m looking forward to returning to Cambridge this weekend and completing the half marathon.

“Since having the defibrillator implanted I’ve been able to continue running regularly and have finished other half marathons, so I’m confident going into this one.

“I’m feeling fine now, but I know crossing the finish line on Sunday will probably bring a mix of emotions.

Dr Mellor added: “Patients with EV-ICDs [this particular type of defibrillator] have no limitations placed on them in the long-run. We would anticipate and hope for our patients to return to their normal activities, involving exercise, travel, driving or whatever they want to do.

"We are very supportive of George going back to running and there are no restrictions. That includes running the Cambridge half marathon again.”

George is running Sunday's race for Royal Papworth Hospital Charity. We wish him all the very best for the race. 💙

Read George's story and learn more about his defibrillator, the Aurora EV-ICD from Medtronic: https://royalpapworth.nhs.uk/our-hospital/latest-news/student-runs-cambridge-half-marathon-two-years-after-surviving-cardiac-arrest

A lifeline to little hearts 🫀Clinical perfusionist Ivan recently travelled to Ghana on a charity mission with Mending Ki...
04/03/2026

A lifeline to little hearts 🫀

Clinical perfusionist Ivan recently travelled to Ghana on a charity mission with Mending Kids to help deliver life-saving cardiac surgery.

Arriving in Accra, he joined a volunteer team that performed seven open-heart surgeries in five days – six on children with complex congenital heart disease and one on a 50-year-old patient with a congenital heart defect.

As a clinical perfusionist Ivan played a vital role, operating the heart-lung bypass machine during surgery, temporarily taking over the function of the heart and lungs so surgeons can work safely.

The days were long and demanding but one of the most powerful moments came after surgery when Ivan visited the patients on the ward.

“I went back to the hospital before I flew home just to check on them. They were all awake on the wards, surrounded by their families and incredibly thankful. The kids were cracking jokes with me - it was amazing.”

Reflecting on the mission, Ivan describes it as ‘exhausting, humbling and deeply rewarding’.

“It makes you realise how fortunate we are to have the NHS. There are things we could improve, but what we have here is a world away from what they’re working with.””

Ivan’s trip was made possible thanks to the support of Cambridge Perfusion, which provides perfusion services to Royal Papworth Hospital and has previously supported similar charitable missions to Ghana. It was able to donate items for Ivan to take, alongside other equipment donated by our theatre team.

Congratulations Ivan and thank you to everyone who helped ensure his trip was a success. 💙

Looking for a new challenge or hoping to take the first step in a rewarding career in health or science? 🏥👩🏻‍🔬🥼🧪The Camb...
02/03/2026

Looking for a new challenge or hoping to take the first step in a rewarding career in health or science? 🏥👩🏻‍🔬🥼🧪

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus Spring Careers Fair takes place next Wednesday 11 March (14:00-19:00) and you are warmly invited.

Held at the Cambridge Academy for Science & Technology, it's an opportunity for job seekers of all backgrounds and levels to meet a wide range of employers across technology, admin, biochemistry and healthcare, including representatives from Royal Papworth.

There are free workshops throughout the event, covering topics such as how to apply for a job in the NHS, interview tips and how to identify your strengths and present them with confidence.

It's completely free to attend and you don't have to book.

Please share this with anyone you think might be interested. 💙

Here are two travel updates for people visiting our hospital / the wider campus in the near future ⚠️- Busway bridge clo...
01/03/2026

Here are two travel updates for people visiting our hospital / the wider campus in the near future ⚠️

- Busway bridge closure 🌉
From Monday 2 March, the busway bridge onto the Cambridge Biomedical Campus beside Cambridge South station will be fully closed to pedestrians and cyclists until the end of April. This is due to ongoing safety works on the guided busway by Cambridgeshire County Council. A signed diversion will be in place.

Please note this does not affect Addenbrooke’s Road, which is the main road into the campus from the M11. There will be no route changes for patients or visitors either driving onto campus or using the bus from Trumpington Park & Ride.

- Bus stop changes - 2/3 March 🚌
In other news, additional maintenance work also means the two bus stops directly outside our hospital will be closed on Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 March.

Services to Trumpington Park & Ride and the city centre / St Ives will both use the bus stop on Francis Crick Avenue, outside the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

Further details can be found on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus website:
🔗 https://cambridge-biomedical.com/future-plan/guided-busway-safety-works/

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Papworth Road, Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge
CB20AY

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Royal Papworth Hospital is a world-renowned specialist cardiothoracic (heart and lung) hospital and includes the UK’s main adult heart and lung transplant centre.

The hospital has an extraordinary commitment to delivering the highest levels of clinical quality and providing the best possible standards of personalised care to its patients.

Royal Papworth treats approximately 25,000 inpatients and day cases and sees more than 75,000 outpatients each year from across the UK. Its services are internationally recognised and include cardiology, respiratory medicine, sleep medicine, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery and heart & lung transplantation. Over the last three years, it has performed the highest number of heart surgery procedures in the UK whilst achieving the country’s lowest cardiac surgery mortality rate. Located in Cambridge in the East of England, the hospital sees patients for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiothoracic disease, it is also a national centre for a range of specialist services, including pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).