John Perry
Question:39 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated cost of one heart and lung transplant at the new heart and lung transplant unit at the Mater Hospital. [18424/04]
View answerTuesday, 22 June 2004
Questions (42, 43)
John Perry
Question:82 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children when the first heart and lung transplant will take place at the Mater Hospital, Dublin. [18422/04]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 82 together.
Services at the hospital are provided under an arrangement with the ERHA. My Department is advised that it proposes to carry out three lung transplants this year. It hopes to increase the level of activity to at least 15 transplants per annum as the programme develops. In addition, an agreement is in place with the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, that provides for a minimum of 15 lung transplants to be performed on Irish patients in the 12 month period to 31 March 2005, subject to the availability of suitable organs. The position can be further reviewed in the event of additional donor organs being available.
Once the programme is established the marginal cost per transplant patient, assuming fixed payroll costs, will be €115,000. The estimated cost includes the cost of the extensive assessment programme and post-operative treatment for patients who receive a transplant. It is anticipated that more than eight to ten additional heart transplants will result from the expanded organ donor pool.