UK’s first hand transplant operation takes place after donor found

The UK’s first hand transplant procedure has been carried out and the patient is making 'good progress'

10:54 04 January 2013

Mark Cahill, from Halifax, Yorkshire, has become the first person in the UK to have a hand transplant. The pioneering operation, which took place at Leeds General Infirmary, lasted for eight hours and was carried out after the patientlost use of his right hand because of gout.

Mr. Cahill, who used to be a landlord of a pub in Yorkshire, first heard that a donor had been found on Boxing Day and underwent surgery the following day. He is reportedly making ‘good progress’.

Mr. Cahill said he was shocked when he first heard the news. He spoke of the operation on ITV’s programme Daybreak, saying: “I'm getting slight movement now, my feeling has just started coming back, but everything's looking very, very good.

"Long term I won't have 100% use of it, but obviously I'm going to have a lot more use than I had with the existing hand.”

It is understood that Mr. Cahill is happy with how the surgery went and that it will help change his life.

He told Daybreak presenters that he was looking forward to going back to work as well as performing other tasks, such as “button my shirts” and “fasten a pair of shoelaces”,  but mainly he looks forward to holding his grandson’s hand.