Brian O'Shea
Question:414 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the provision of a heart and lung transplant unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8794/98]
Written Answers. - Heart and Lung Transplant Facilities.
The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, includes a commitment to support the establishment of a heart and lung transplant facility in Ireland. The detailed arrangements required to facilitate this new and complex service are being advanced as a priority by my Department.
I recently announced as part of the launch of a National Strategy on Cardiovascular Health that the Mater Hospital, Dublin, has been designated as the surgical site for lung or heart-lung transplantation, in association with other key service providers and in particular St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, which is the national centre for the treatment of Cystic Fibrosis.
Pending the establishment of an Irish based unit the immediate requirement is to examine whether the existing service being provided in the UK to Irish patients can be improved in any way. Discussions have been held with a number of centres in the UK with a view to contracting work to a selected and proven centre.
Proposals for the training of Irish surgical, medical, nursing and support staff in preparing for the establishment of an Irish programme have also been invited.
The establishment of a lung and heart-lung transplant programme is an extremely complex and difficult task. A critical factor in the successful delivery of a quality transplant programme is whether the level of transplant activity in an established programme is sufficient to maintain the level of expertise required to achieve successful outcomes. It is essential to have appropriately trained staff, suitable infrastructure and a multi disciplinary approach to ensure successful outcomes. A phased approach is therefore being adopted, recognising the need to build expertise and to create a programme that is viable in terms of the outcomes for patients, whether it be at home or abroad.
In summary, therefore, it is my view that a lung or heart-lung transplant programme should commence in Ireland when the necessary expertise has been developed, through a mentor relationship with the UK, to the point where we can guarantee results which are on a par with those achieved internationally. In the interim, my Department is looking to improve the level of service by UK transplant centres to Irish patients.