Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 June 2004
284 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of lung transplants anticipated at the new Mater Hospital unit in 2004; and the number anticipated per annum when the unit is operating at a capacity which is consistent with the maximum anticipated availability of transplant organs. [16613/04]
View answer285 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of lung transplants which took place at Newcastle as part of the Irish-Newcastle contract arrangements in each of the years from 1999 until 2003. [16614/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.
Services at the Mater Hospital are provided under an arrangement with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. The primary objective in establishing an Irish-based lung transplant programme is to increase the numbers of Irish patients receiving lung transplants, while at the same time ensuring that the clinical outcomes for those patients are at least as good as those obtained in established centres elsewhere.
Consistent with that objective, and having regard to the complexity of the issues involved in establishing a transplant programme, a phased approach to the repatriation of the lung transplant programme is being taken.
My Department is advised that the Mater Hospital is proposing to carry out three lung transplants this year and hopes to increase that level of activity to at least 15 transplants per annum as the programme develops. The service agreement with the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle provides for a minimum of 15 lung transplants to be performed on Irish patients in the current year, subject to the availability of suitable organs. The position will be further reviewed in the event of additional donor organs being available.
My Department is advised that the number of lung transplants performed on Irish patients at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in each of the years from 1999 to 2003 is as follows:
|
Number |
|
|
April 1999 to March 2000 |
4 |
|
April 2000 to March 2001 |
7 |
|
April 2001 to March 2002 |
9 |
|
April 2002 to March 2003 |
13 |
|
April 2003 to March 2004 |
14 |
|
47 |
