Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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27. To ask the Minister for Health if he will report on the measures his Department has taken to resolve the immediate risks to patients' health arising from the closure of the pancreas transplant unit in Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, and to maintain the quality of services. [27647/15]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The consultant who undertook pancreas transplants at Beaumont Hospital retired at the end of 2014. While Beaumont Hospital is making every effort to recruit a suitable replacement, the hospital is also collaborating with St Vincent’s University Hospital in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants. It is proposed that pancreas transplants, of which 6 were performed in 2014, will move to St Vincent’s University Hospital. As St Vincent’s is already established as the National Liver Transplant Centre, and is a designated centre for pancreas cancer services, it is well placed to undertake pancreas transplants.

Most pancreas transplants are combined with a kidney transplant. The arrangements being put in place for such cases will involve transplant surgeons from St Vincent’s University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital working together on the St Vincent’s campus. In addition to working with St Vincent’s Hospital in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants, Beaumont is also collaborating with that hospital in regard to the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service that will facilitate a more effective and cohesive overall procurement and transplant service.

Beaumont Hospital wrote in May to all patients who have received a pancreas transplant, as well as to patients who are on the transplant waiting list. They have also written to all referring consultants. At this point all pancreas transplant recipients have been seen by clinicians in Beaumont or have appointments in place. Future pathways of care are being discussed with all patients at these meetings. A joint assessment clinic for the 8 patients who are waiting for a pancreas transplant, involving consultants and nurses from both Beaumont and St. Vincent's, will be held on 24th July.

Every effort is being made to have all the necessary arrangements and protocols in place to facilitate St. Vincent's being in a position to undertake pancreas transplants from mid-September, should a suitable donor/recipient match occur.