Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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518. To ask the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns (details supplied) regarding the resignation of a surgeon from the kidney and pancreas transplantation team in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; if his and-or the Health Service Executive's attention was drawn to the surgeon's concerns prior to the surgeon's resignation; and the action he is taking to ensure that a full team of surgeons is in place at the kidney and pancreas transplantation unit as soon as possible. [15625/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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At the end of 2014, two consultant transplant surgeons left the renal and pancreas transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital, one on retirement and the second on leave of absence for professional development purposes. Given the limited number of surgeons who specialise in transplantation, any vacancies pose a challenge. While every effort is being made to fill the vacancies, remaining surgeons are available to provide transplant services.

Officials from the HSE and my Department are actively working with senior management and the transplant surgeons at Beaumont Hospital on the operational and strategic development of renal transplant services.

Along with an active recruitment process, Beaumont Hospital is collaborating with other transplant services in relation to the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service, as well as a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants.