Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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524. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding access to specialist after-care services for all kidney and pancreas transplant patients; the position regarding the continuation of the specialist outpatient clinic at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin 9, following the retirement of a consultant surgeon (details supplied); if a consultant nephrologist has been appointed to fill this post; if so, when the clinic will reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28296/15]

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. 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.

The transplant clinic for people who have already received a kidney and/or pancreas transplant remains at Beaumont Hospital. While some patients are currently being reviewed at this clinic, others have over the years been referred back to their consultant nephrologists and are being managed by them.

Individual care pathways are being discussed with the patients who are still being seen in Beaumont. Some of these patients will be referred to a consultant nephrologist for on-going care while others will remain in the dual care of the transplant surgeon and their consultant nephrologist.