Vol. 486 No. 2
60 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children his views on the report that 14 hearts offered for donation to the National Cardiac Transplant Unit since early in 1996 could not be used because of a shortage of beds and of staff to carry out transplants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2090/98]
I am advised by the Mater Hospital that hearts offered for transplantation may be rejected for one or more of the following reasons: The hospital may not have a suitable recipient of the correct blood group or the donor and recipient may not match. There are generally accepted age limits for heart donors — 40 years in the case of males and 45 years for females. In addition a discrepancy of 20 per cent between the weight of the donor and the recipient would generally rule the heart out of consideration. Heart transplantation differs from lung and kidney transplantation in that the donated organs must be used within four hours of explantation whereas with the kidney or liver 12 to 24 hours may be adequate. It has happened on occasions that transport difficulties have arisen which has rendered it necessary to turn down an organ donation.
I am informed that on occasions the intensive care unit and cubicles may be full and there may be no beds to accept proper donation. On one occasion last year the cardiac transplant unit was closed for routine maintenance work and the hospital went off call. During that time three hearts were offered, one of which was used in the UK and two of which were deemed to be medically unsuitable.
I am confident that the measures announced by me today as part of the strategy on cardiovascular health will lead to an enhancement of cardiac care facilities nationally, including the transplantation programme.
