Hospital in bid to carry out UK’S first face transplant

BOSSES at Scotland’s largest health board are planning a bid to carry out Britain’s first face transplant, it has emerged.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is hoping to offer the procedure following the global success of the groundbreaking operation.

To date there have been 20 operations carried out around the world including in France, Poland, Turkey and the US.

The Scots board has confirmed it is examining the possibility of introducing the procedure.

It is understood medics at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital have proposed the pioneering surgery, which involves transplanting the face of a dead donor.

The revelation comes ahead of an international conference this week which will be addressed by Professor Bernard Devauchelle, the French surgeon who carried out the world’s f i rst f ace transplant.

He operated in 2005 on French

Potential to improve lives

woman Isabelle Dinoire who had been badly mauled by a dog.

Ethical approval was given to surgeon Peter Butler to carry out the procedure at London’s Royal Free Hospital in 2006 but a suitable patient has not been found.

Supporters of the procedure believe it has the potential to improve thousands of lives.

But critics claim there are ethical concerns and that recipients have to take immuno-suppressant drugs for the rest of their lives.

Long-term use of the medication can make patients vulnerable to infection and increase their chances of developing cancer and other conditions.

A team of doctors based at the Southern, led by maxillofacial surgeon Colin MacIvor who has had specialist training in France, put forward the idea to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

A board spokesman said it was ‘examining the clinical requirements’ for the new service and would then submit an application to the NHS National Specialised Services Committee.