Royal Visit Marks Official Opening of Life-Changing Transplant Centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham

HRH, The Duchess of Gloucester, has officially opened the new £4.2 million Edmonds Transplant Centre Birmingham at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, marking a significant milestone in care for transplant patients across the region.

Delivered by Speller Metcalfe , the project brings together world-leading expertise in transplant care within a purpose-built, state-of-the-art facility, for the most active transplant centre in Europe. Developed in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham Charity, the new centre has been designed to streamline the transplant journey for patients undergoing heart, lung, liver and kidney transplants – all under one roof.

Before the centre opened, transplant patients were required to attend multiple departments for consultations, tests and post-operative care, often resulting in several hospital visits. The Edmonds Transplant Centre changes that.

“This new facility is a game-changer for patients and their families,” said Dr Nick Murphy, Clinical Care Consultant and the driving force behind the project. “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.”

The Centre offers:

• Pre-transplant consultations
• Additional fitness classes before surgery
• Patient support groups
• Rehabilitation classes after surgery

Speller Metcalfe worked closely with the Trust and design teams to create a space that enhances patient comfort, improves accessibility and supports holistic recovery throughout the transplant journey.

Rob Lashford, Divisional Director at Speller Metcalfe, said: ““We’re incredibly proud to have delivered a facility that will make such a meaningful difference to the lives of transplant patients and their families. Working in partnership with University Hospitals Birmingham Charity and the wider project team, our focus was on creating a space that supports both clinical excellence and patient wellbeing. The Edmonds Transplant Centre is a shining example of how construction can positively impact healthcare, and we’re honoured to have played our part.”

The centre’s namesake, A. Edmonds & Co. Ltd, became a major donor as part of their 150th anniversary celebrations, contributing approximately £1 million to the project.

Also attending the official opening was transplant recipient Imran Vorajee, whose life was saved by a heart transplant at the hospital in 2018.

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

The Edmonds Transplant Centre has been made possible thanks to generous contributions from A. Edmonds & Co. Ltd, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Denise Coates Foundation, Queen Elizabeth Kidney Patients Association, and many other fundraisers and donors who continue to support the life-changing work carried out at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

Speller Metcalfe is proud to have delivered a project that will have a lasting impact on transplant care for patients and families for years to come.