Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, for the second day in a row I must, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil group, extent my deepest sympathies, this time with regard to the tragedy that occurred yesterday in Baltimore, with the loss of three lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ryan and O'Connor families.

Last week I raised with the Leader, and brought to the attention of colleagues, the situation in regard to pancreas transplants in Ireland, which is extremely grave. I do not know if anybody read the interview with the retired surgeon, Dr. David Hickey, who performed all 118 pancreas transplants done to date. He effectively said that Beaumont Hospital and the HSE could face corporate manslaughter charges over the closure of the pancreatic transplant programme. I am dealing with some families whose relatives are on the waiting list for pancreas transplants and they have no access to the transplant teams. They have been told that if there is a problem, they must go to an accident and emergency department. This is in the case for both pre-transplant and post-transplant patients. People who have received pancreas and kidney transplants are being told that if they have a problem, they should go to the accident and emergency department. That is the worst place a person in such a position should go because of the fear of infection, to which he or she would be much more prone.

I wrote to the Minister for Health nearly two weeks ago about this matter but he has not yet responded. I know he has responded to Fine Gael colleagues who raised the issue with him. He has indicated that the service is moving from Beaumont Hospital to St. Vincent's Hospital. That may be the case but the problem is that we have not appointed a surgeon to carry out the duties.I will not name those mentioned in the article in The Irish Times who outlined their cases. They have been left in limbo. Neither the Minister nor anyone in the Department of Heath or the HSE is giving any guidance as to when this situation will be rectified. The operation in question is a lifesaving and life-changing one; therefore, time is of the essence. Dr. Hickey's retirement was well flagged in advance and that position is still vacant. For the HSE and the Minister to say to that the service is being moved to St. Vincent's Hospital means nothing because the position has not been filled and there is no one to carry out these operations. I am meeting families who have been affected by this issue at half past five this evening. It is not acceptable that the Minister has not answered me at this stage. It is also not acceptable that neither the HSE nor the Minister has arranged for the appointment of a replacement for Dr. David Hickey to carry out these operations. Further, it is unacceptable that citizens who are dependent on our health service to save their lives are being told to go to an accident and emergency department as there are no services available. It is wrong. I would like the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, to come to the House today and explain what is happening here and to outline his plans for the carrying out of pancreatic transplant surgeries. When will the service be reinstated? If the service is to be moved to St. Vincent's, when will a surgeon be in place to carry out these surgeries. With that in mind, I propose an amendment to the Order of Business to the effect that the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, come to the House today to explain his plans for the filling of the vacancy in the pancreatic transplant programme in Ireland, as no such surgery is currently available here. It will be an opportunity for him to outline his plans.