PAPWORTH Hospital has conducted about 700 lung transplants and is recognised as a world leader in lung and heart care.

The Cambridge hospital deals with around 120 lung patients each year, of which between 30 and 40 are advised to have a transplant.

Transplants are only recommended after a series of detailed tests.

When a donor becomes available, the hospital informs the NHS Blood and Transplant Co-ordination Centre in Bristol, which then distributes the information to on-call transplant teams.

In Mr Millington's case, Papworth was contacted and staff made a decision over whether organs would be suitable within 45 minutes.

They then travelled to the donor hospital to carry out a string of tests, including X-rays, heart record checks and blood samples.

Lungs are then examined internally using fibre optics and are also checked with the human eye for abnormality and general quality.

A final decision is then taken. Papworth turns down about 60 per cent of donated lungs and if cancer is identified in any organs none of the others, such as heart and liver, are used for transplant.

Last year 80 people in the UK died waiting for new lungs.