Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Jul 1997

Vol. 480 No. 2

Written Answers. - Heart and Lung Transplant Unit.

Ivan Yates

Ceist:

161 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a national heart and lung transplant unit as requested by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland; if he or the Government parties made any commitment during the general election in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14185/97]

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

168 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Health the current position on the demand for a heart and lung transplant unit in Ireland; if he will quantify the demand and the numbers of patients visiting United Kingdom hospitals with this medical problem; and if he will estimate the set-up capital cost of a unit and the annual running expenses. [13487/97]

Michael Noonan

Ceist:

204 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Health the policy, if any, on the provision of a heart and lung transplant facility in Ireland. [13978/97]

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

209 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the action, if any, he proposes in order to provide a heart and lung transplant unit in Ireland; if so, when this service will be put into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13989/97]

Minister for Health (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 161, 168, 204 and 209 together.

The Programme for Government, An Action Programme for the Millennium, includes a commitment to support the establishment of a heart and lung transplant facility in Ireland.

It has been estimated that the annual heart-lung and lung transplant caseload in this country would be between ten and 20 cases if a programme were to be established. Information collated by the health boards indicated that up to 35 people were awaiting heart-lung transplants at the end of 1996. Figures supplied by the United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority show that four people from Ireland attended United Kingdom hospitals in 1996 for heart-lung transplant operations. International research suggests that between 20 per cent and 50 per cent of recipients of heart-lung and lung transplantations are cystic fibrosis patients.

It is difficult at this stage to accurately assess the cost of establishing a heart-lung transplant programme. The capital cost of establishing a heart-lung transplant unit was estimated by one potential site, the Mater Hospital, at £2.6 million with annual revenue costs estimated at a further £2.4 million. However, these estimates were prepared in 1995 and also included provision for the cost of additional cardiac surgery.

Setting up a successful transplant programme for any specialty is an extremely complex and difficult task. It is essential to have appropriately trained staff, infrastructure and back-up resources to ensure successful outcomes. Apart from the surgery involved it is equally important to develop expertise in pre and post operative care and to develop a long-term after care programme associated with transplantation.

My Department is at present carrying out detailed research into the establishment of a heart-lung and lung transplant programme in Ireland. The strategy will be to approach the issue on a phased basis in the context of the need for an integrated national programme to develop cardiac care services. Initially, it may be necessary to develop a formal link with a transplant centre in the United Kingdom which would treat Irish patients currently waiting for heart-lung or lung transplants and assist us in building up the necessary expertise required to operate a successful programme in Ireland.

My Department is working closely with the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland to ensure the best possible service to patients now and in the future.