Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 158: To ask the Minister for Health the full extent of the facilities currently available for combined heart and lung transplants as promised 15 years ago; the extent to which the facilities have evolved in the intervening period; the location or locations at which the facilities are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26630/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Heart and lung transplantation programmes are based in the Mater Hospital Dublin. Ireland also has a formal agreement with the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for transplantation procedures.

In 1985 the first heart transplant procedure was undertaken in the State. Since then to late 2010 two hundred and seventy nine heart transplants have been performed.

The lung transplantation programme commenced in 2005 and to date thirty seven lung transplants have been performed in the Mater with outcomes exceeding the international average. It is anticipated that the volumes of lung transplants will reach 15-20 cases per year following the recent appointment of a surgeon with expertise in lung transplantation. This projected increase in numbers will reduce the need for patients to travel abroad for this service resulting in considerable cost efficiencies.

The National Office for Organ Donation and Transplantation was set up earlier this year. The Office will endeavour to enhance organ donation in Ireland and underpin the quality of outcomes for patients following organ donation in line with Directive 2010/53/EU on Organ Donation and Transplantation.