Liz O'Donnell
Ceist:126 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Health the number of people who are waiting for bone marrow transplants.
Written Answers. - Bone Marrow Transplants.
Bone marrow transplant operations are provided for adults at St. James's Hospital, Dublin and for children at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin.
In relation to St. James's Hospital, the number of bone marrow transplants to be performed each year is determined by the hospital at the beginning of the year. The patient is notified of his or her appointment at that stage. The hospital has scheduled a total of 26-28 bone marrow transplant operations for 1993. The position at Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin is that three children have to date received bone marrow transplants this year, and there are currently four children waiting for bone marrow transplant operations at the hospital.
I would point out that patients who cannot be facilitated at St. James's Hospital or Our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin and who require urgent treatment are referred abroad under EC arrangements. There are, therefore, no waiting lists as such for bone marrow transplants.
The Deputy will be pleased to learn that planning is at an advanced stage for a new purpose-built Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at St. James's Hospital which will, when completed, be able to deal with the estimated total national demand of 50 transplants per year.