Woman Travels to Turkey for Liver Transplant After NHS Denial

A woman diagnosed with a rare liver disease and later with bile duct cancer has been denied a liver transplant on the NHS and is pursuing the operation in Turkey. Flo Moffat-Charles, 31, from Kendal in Cumbria, was diagnosed with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in January 2024. Last year she received an additional diagnosis of Cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive bile duct cancer.

The NHS determined that a transplant would be too risky because of the cancer's location. A liver transplant is considered the only curative option for her condition. The couple decided to seek treatment abroad after chemotherapy did not make her eligible for a UK transplant.

They selected a hospital in Turkey and began raising funds for the £200,000 procedure. Josh Moffat-Charles, 32, is a possible living donor, though additional liver complications may increase surgical risks. The couple is also considering other donors.

Moffat-Charles said the NHS guidelines create an "apprehension" about transplanting patients who have both cancer and PSC. She added that greater flexibility could help patients responding well to treatment. A spokesperson for University College Hospital London stated that transplant candidates are assessed against nationally agreed clinical criteria to allocate limited organs fairly.

An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said every transplant centre must ensure recommended patients can achieve satisfactory outcomes given the scarcity of donor organs. Helen Morement, Chief Executive of AMMF – The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity, said transplantation for PSC patients who develop cholangiocarcinoma follows strict eligibility protocols aligned with international guidelines.