New 'lungs in a box' machine could be life-changing for those waiting for NHS lung transplants

  • Matthew Hudson reports for ITV News Anglia on a new machine that could significantly increase the number of lungs that can be transplanted.

A former smoker is enjoying a second chance at life after becoming the UK's first patient to receive a lung transplant using a new machine dubbed the "lungs in a box".

Daniel Evans-Smith, 49, had a serious condition that led to his lung collapsing five times between late 2023 and early 2024.

In July, he became the first NHS patient on a pilot scheme to receive borderline-usable donated organs which had been reconditioned and improved using a machine.

Five months on and he is continuing to improve, now walking 7,000 steps a day.

Mr Evans-Smith, from Northampton, said: "It is very exciting that it's increasing the number of viable organs because they can take them out of the host of the donor and actually work on them to make them physically better so they become less borderline and more viable to be transplanted."

The technique, called ex-vivo lung perfusion or EVLP, reconditions donated lungs to improve their quality and make them suitable for transplant. Experts say the results are just as good as regular lung transplants.

Currently, only 5% of lungs offered for donation in this country are able to be used.

Daniel Evans-Smith is the first patient in the UK to benefit from the new technology. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The machine is being used elsewhere in the world, where it increases transplant numbers by around 30%.

If the pilot does become a permanent procedure, EVLP offers the possibility of increasing lung transplants significantly - giving hope to the many people waiting for new organs.

Transplant doctor Jas Palmer said: "All the information we have is that reconditioning of lungs in this situation provides equivalent outcomes to normal donor lungs.

"You've seen Daniel's transformation. He's gone from being sadly very disabled, on oxygen, not able to do anything to now [being] able to walk around and enjoy life a bit more.

"And he's testament to what can be achieved."

The Royal Papworth pilot project is being financed for a year but those involved believe it would save the NHS money if funding is extended.Surgeon Marius Berman said: "Sadly patients like Daniel cost a lot of money to the NHS by recurrent prolonged hospitalisation, either on the ward or in a more expensive set up like intensive care, [and] a long list of very expensive medications.

"And a lot of this can be reduced by doing a life-saving transplantation."

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