Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2015
38. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of what has been done, and what will be done, to ensure that kidneys donated here, are not sent abroad, due to a lack of infrastructure to harvest and transplant them here; in particular the plan there is to recruit relevant specialists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7974/15]
View answerThe national renal transplant team in Beaumont Hospital carries out all kidney transplants in Ireland. My Department, the HSE and Beaumont Hospital are working together to ensure that available organs are used for transplantation to patients in Ireland. The export of kidneys that become available for transplant is not envisaged.
All Transplant Surgeons at Beaumont Hospital also work as Consultant Urologists and have significant specialist urology workloads. Two vacancies for Transplant Surgeons/Urologists at Beaumont Hospital arose at the end of 2014. Approval has also been given for the recruitment of an additional Consultant Transplant Surgeon to support the expansion of the living donor transplant programme. These three specialised posts have been advertised both nationally and internationally and Beaumont Hospital continues to pursue the filling of the posts as soon as possible.
