A history of liver transplantation and current statistics Transplantation of the liver was first performed in 1963.

Today, the UK performs approximately 600 - 700 liver transplants a year; the 10,000th operation took place in July 2004. There are seven transplant units in the UK, six in England and one in Scotland. Currently, the waiting time for low-risk patients in the UK is 6 - 12 months. 

UK Transplant estimate:

In 2009/10 (financial year) there were 663 liver transplants in the UK.

Between 2000 and 2010 there 6,599 liver transplants took place

During the 2008-09 (financial year) there were:

667 deceased donor liver transplants

·         537 whole liver, including 8 liver and kidney, 8 liver, bowel and pancreas/multivisceral (1 including the kidney);

·         130 deceased liver lobe, including 5 liver and kidney and 2 liver, bowel and pancreas/multivisceral.

·         Split liver transplants accounted for 82% of liver lobe transplant activity.

Alcohol was the highest cause for a liver transplant with 112 transplants
(following a standard six months abstinence period)

Hepatitis C was the second highest with 107 transplants

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis was the third highest with 58 transplants

The average survival for all transplants at one year was approximately 88%, though this varies between different patients, with different diseases.