The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has launched a consultation on draft guidance recommending four specialist liver preservation machines for routine NHS use in England, a move that could support more of the 600 people waiting for a life-saving transplant.
Published on 20 May 2026, the proposal centres on technology that keeps donor livers alive outside the body for longer, potentially expanding the number of organs that can be assessed, transported and used. NICE said the machines could help improve access to transplantation for patients who need urgent treatment and for teams working under intense pressure to secure suitable donor organs.
How the technology could change transplant care
The consultation comes at a time when transplant services continue to face a persistent shortage of organs. By extending the time a liver can be preserved outside the body, the machines may give clinicians more flexibility to evaluate organs before transplant and reduce the chance that potentially usable livers are lost because time runs out.
NICE said the recommendation would cover four specialist liver preservation machines for routine NHS use. The consultation is now open, meaning stakeholders can review the draft guidance before a final decision is made. For patients waiting on the transplant list, the development could offer hope of faster access to surgery if the technology is adopted nationally.
Pressure on services remains a major issue
There are around 600 people in England currently waiting for a life-saving liver transplant, according to NICE. The new proposal is designed to help transplant teams manage that demand more effectively, while also potentially improving the chances that donated organs can be used safely and efficiently.
If the guidance is finalized, it would add another tool to the NHS transplant pathway and could help reduce waste in a system where every suitable organ is valuable. The consultation represents an important step, but further evidence and feedback will determine whether the machines are ultimately approved for routine use.
For now, the draft guidance signals a possible shift in transplant care, with technology playing a bigger role in helping more patients reach surgery in time.
