Transplant

Nurse consultant

Anne McDermott 

I predominantly work with lung transplant assessment patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, from assessment through to post-transplantation. 

Inpatient lung transplant assessments  

During their two-day assessment admission, patients undergo a variety of clinical tests, have social/psychological assessment and receive in-depth information regarding transplantation. All appropriate tests are requested and results are collated for the weekly multidisciplinary team meeting, where each case is discussed and a decision will be made regarding suitability for transplantation.

Telephone clinic review 

Patients’ on the lung transplant waiting list are followed up in our outpatient department and by telephone review. The telephone review clinic enables us to maintain contact with our patients in between clinic visits.

Outpatient clinic 

I lead the oesophageal impedance/pH study service. This investigation identifies reflux. This is important to diagnose in patients post-transplant because of the potential effect on transplanted lungs.

I am involved in developing our transplant dermatology clinic and am keen to progress with new initiatives that are offered to our patients.

Immunoadsorption therapy  

I also run the transplant unit's immunoadsorption service for post-transplant patients who may develop antibody-mediated rejection. This is a dialysis type treatment that filters circulating antibodies in the blood. 

Other aspects of my role include:

• Leading in the development of transplant nursing practice  
• Contributing to research, service development and education 
• Line management to the recipient transplant coordinators, transplant specialist nurses, mechanical circulatory support team, transplant outpatient department and transplant research nurses. 

I am also a staff governor of the Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust.

Clinical nurse specialist

Mandy McCurry

I am a specialist nurse working with a specified group of pre and post-transplant patients. I'm responsible for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of inpatients, and organising further investigations/follow-up where required upon discharge, either at Harefield or at the patient’s local hospital. 

I am also part of the team providing immunoadsorption treatment to patients with antibody-mediated rejection and provide education/information regarding transplant assessment and post-transplant care/long-term follow-up to heart and lung assessment patients and their families.

Clinical nurse specialists - recipient transplant coordinators

Our specialist nurses work with assessment and peri-operative transplant patients, managing them through their assessment and transplant, in conjunction with the transplant directorate team. 

This includes: 

• providing an individualised service to patients admitted for lung transplant assessment and supporting them through the whole transplant process   

• providing expert advice and advocacy for transplant assessment/waiting list patients and their families  

• referral to support services, such as psychology and physiotherapy where applicable

• adding patients to the national heart/lung transplant waiting list 

• managing and supporting patients on the transplant waiting list, including regular telephone and clinic reviews

• liaising with NHS Blood and Transplant regarding organ allocation and suitability for transplant

• co-ordinating transplant activity from referral of donor offer to completion of heart/lung transplant

• completing audit and research projects with regards to donor offers, transplant activity and the waiting list.