Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust is a partnership of two hospitals known throughout the world for their expertise, standard of care and research success in the field of heart and lung disease

Royal Brompton Hospital

Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea has more than 1,600 staff, five operating theatres and four catheter laboratories. It has 334 beds used for intensive care, respiratory, cardiology, paediatric and paediatric intensive care patients.

It is home to Europe’s largest centre for the treatment and management of cystic fibrosis and also sees patients suffering from asthma and other lung conditions, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from across the country. Royal Brompton is also home to Europe's largest adult congenital heart disease unit.

Harefield Hospital

Harefield Hospital in Hillingdon has more than 900 staff, five operating theatres and four catheter laboratories. It has 176 beds, including beds for cardiac and thoracic, cardiology, day case, adult intensive care and transplant patients.

The hospital is one of the world's largest and most experienced centres for heart and lung transplants.

Harefield also has a dedicated heart attack centre dealing with cardiac emergencies from outer north-west London. 

What they do

Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals carry out some of the most complicated heart and lung procedures and surgeries available anywhere in the world. Combined, they form the UK's only specialist heart and lung centre that treats both adults and children.

The hospitals specialise in treating, among others:

  • Cancer
  • Cardiac conditions
  • Respiratory conditions
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Paediatric conditions
  • Sleep-related conditions

In addition to the treatment of such conditions, dedicated staff at our hospitals carry out pioneering research into new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent heart and lung diseases.

The history

Royal Brompton Hospital was established in 1841 for tuberculosis sufferers. It had many high-profile supporters, including members of the Royal Family and Charles Dickens.

In the 1940s, after it had been incorporated into the new National Health Service, the hospital began developing its expertise in heart conditions alongside its existing excellence in the treatment of lung disease.

Royal Brompton established the UK’s first adult cystic fibrosis clinic in 1964, and the hospital has grown into Europe’s largest treatment centre for the condition.

Nowadays, the hospital carries out some of the most complicated heart and lung surgery and procedures available anywhere in the world. It is the only specialist heart and lung unit in the country that treats both adults and children.

Harefield Hospital was established during WW1 to treat injured Australian and New Zealander troops. At the end of the war, the owners of the estate donated land to build a new tuberculosis hospital.

In 1983, under the direction of Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, the first ever combined heart and lung transplant was performed. The following year a baby younger than one month received a heart transplant.

In 1987, Harefield was the site of the very first ‘domino’ procedure. A patient with cystic fibrosis but a healthy heart underwent a heart-lung transplant with organs from a deceased donor, while a second patient received the first patient’s heart.