Organ Donation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Questions (122)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

122. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to any discarding of donated organs, by the Health Service Executive, due to the lack of resources to carry out operations, despite persons being on long waiting lists, across the country; if he will confirm if this is the current situation; if not, if there have been any issues in relation to the distribution of donated organs to patients, while the health care system is undergoing a crisis in management; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8368/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I am advised by the HSE that all donated organs are utilised to maximum clinical benefit for Irish patients.

Beaumont Hospital, one of the three transplant centres, is facing some challenges in the recruitment of transplant surgeons to fill current vacancies. Highly trained transplant surgeons can be difficult to locate and the hospital continues to carry out an international recruitment campaign.