Austin Deasy
Ceist:339 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Waterford is called immediately for a heart and lung transplant operation in view of his rapidly deteriorating health.
Written Answers. - Transplant Operation.
I am not in a position to provide information regarding this case as the patient in question is obtaining private treatment. I understand that the South-Eastern Health Board have not been contacted by the patient and have no knowledge regarding the details of the case.
As a heart-lung transplant programme has yet to be established in this country, I assume that the patient is awaiting treatment at a centre abroad. This centre will have a pool of patients awaiting similar transplants. The decision as to when a patient will have his/her transplant performed is a clinical decision and depends on the availability of suitable donor organs. Suitability depends on a blood and tissue type match with the intended recipient.