Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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496. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding organ donorship and transplantation at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9; if he is aware that the pancreas and kidney transplant programme has ceased at the hospital; in view of the fact that for a number of months the national kidney transplant service at Beaumont Hospital has met with members of his Department, the Health Service Executive, Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland and St. Vincent's hospital in Dublin 4, if he is aware that its patients have received no communication from hospital management on plans being put in place at St. Vincent's hospital to facilitate and care for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25157/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Two consultant transplant surgeons left the renal and pancreas transplant programme at Beaumont Hospital at the end of last year, one on retirement and the second on leave of absence for professional development purposes. Four consultant transplant surgeons remain and the renal transplant programme is continuing. Given the limited number of surgeons who specialise in transplantation, the filling of any vacancies poses a challenge. Every effort is currently being made to fill the two vacancies.

Beaumont Hospital is collaborating with St Vincent’s University Hospital in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants, as well as the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service. It is proposed that pancreatic transplants, of which 6 were performed in 2014, will move to St Vincent’s University Hospital this year. The two hospitals, together with the HSE and my Department, are working in partnership to make arrangements to facilitate the commencement of this work as soon as possible. Most pancreas transplants are combined with a kidney transplant. The arrangements being put in place for such cases will involve transplant surgeons from both St Vincent’s University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital working together on the St Vincent’s campus.

In May Beaumont Hospital wrote to all patients who have received a pancreas transplant, and to those on the transplant waiting list. They also wrote to all referring consultants. Joint assessment clinic of patients on the waiting list for pancreas transplant, involving consultants and nurses from both Beaumont and St. Vincent's, will be held at the end of July.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.