Official Opening of Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

We’re delighted that HRH, The Duchess of Gloucester, officially opened the brand-new Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham on Thursday, 22nd May 2025.

The £4.2 million centre has been achieved thanks to our amazing fundraisers and supporters so patients can begin their treatment in our new facility which is making a huge difference to transplant patients and their families and the staff treating them.

Before it opened, patients had to have their appointments in multiple areas across the hospital with many return appointments during their transplant journey. The new centre is a “one-stop-shop,” providing everything patients need pre- and post-op, all in one place. This greatly improves treatment and recovery, making the organ transplant process less stressful for patients and helping them feel less anxious throughout their journey.

The new centre gives them a sense of familiarity as they come to the same part of the hospital for each appointment. It also allows the staff to really get to know the patients and their families and provide the care and support needed throughout the transplant process.

  • The Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham provides patients with:
  • Pre-transplant consultations
  • Additional fitness classes before surgery
  • Patient support groups
  • Rehabilitation classes after surgery

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham is the most active transplant centre in Europe, with world-leading surgeons and cutting-edge equipment. The hospital carries out all the major organ transplants – heart, lung, liver and kidney. This new centre is enabling the hospital to continue providing exceptional care to our transplant patients on their life-changing journey.

Clinical Care Consultant, Nick Murphy, who is behind the idea of the centre, explained how the new centre will streamline patient journeys, saying, “Patients can come in and see their physician, the surgeon, the transplant coordinators, their psychologist and their dietician all on the same day, and in one location. This will take away a huge amount of stress for patients and therefore speed up their recovery time.”

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“I was given a 1% chance of survival. Had it not been for my donor, I wouldn’t be here today.”

Meet Imran…

When Imran Vorajee was just 37 years old, he was given the devastating news that he had end-stage heart failure and was told a heart transplant was his only hope.

Thankfully a heart was found, and Imran underwent life-saving surgery at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in 2018. He recovered incredibly well and is now part of the Birmingham Adult Transplant Sport Team and took part in the British Transplant Games to highlight the importance of organ donation and how an active lifestyle is not only an essential part of the recovery process but is also a way for transplant recipients to realise how far they have come. He said, “With my new heart, I can now do the things that I used to be able to do before, which I took for granted. I feel that it hasn’t changed me as a person but I’m making the most of my new life now, thanks to my donor.”

Consultant Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Aaron Ranasinghe, is thrilled at how well Imran has recovered. He said, “Imran was one of the sickest patients we’ve ever had. He had a very long journey, both him and his family, and it’s absolutely fantastic to see him doing so well and living life to the full.”

Aaron added, “The support from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity has been second to none. They help us fund various projects for our transplant patients which make a great difference.”

Imran is passionate about raising awareness for organ donation, as well as encouraging people to consider donating, particularly in minority groups. He has also been supporting the hospital charity to thank the incredible team who saved his life. He said, “We need to support the hospital charity, it really helps get the news out and spread awareness.”

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We’d like to say a huge thank you to A. Edmonds & Co. Ltd. and the Garfield Western Foundation, Denise Coates Foundation and Queen Elizabeth Kidney Patients Association, plus many more fantastic donors and fundraisers who have supported us with the new Centre. Thanks to their help we have been able to transform the treatment and recovery journey of our transplant patients.

To mark its 150th anniversary, A Edmonds & Co Ltd became a major donor to help develop the Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham for patients going through life-saving treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, contributing around £1 million to the appeal.

Managing Director, David Edmonds, said, “A Edmonds & Co Ltd. has been in Birmingham since 1870 and always supports local causes. It gives us great pleasure as a Birmingham employer to be able to provide funding for the local hospital thanks to the support of our staff and customers.”

University Hospitals Birmingham Charity Chief Executive, Mike Hammond said, “Having Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) will make a massive difference for our patients locally and beyond.

“We are immensely proud of what we have achieved and thank our amazing supporters who helped us develop this state-of-the-art centre.”

For more information, please visit: TransplantCentre.org