Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 30 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cystic Fibrosis.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which he expects to be in a position to provide the combined surgical procedures required by patients affected by cystic fibrosis by the end of 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10378/98]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I presume that the Deputy's question refers to the question of lung or heart and lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis patients. 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. The detailed arrangements required to facilitate this new and complex service are being advanced as a priority by my Department.

I recently announced as part of the launch of a National Strategy on Cardiovascular Health that the Mater Hospital, Dublin, has been designated as the surgical site for lung or heart-lung transplantation, in association with other key service providers and in particular St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, which is the national centre for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Pending the establishment of an Irish based unit the immediate requirement is to examine whether the existing service being provided in the UK to Irish patients can be improved in any way. This issue has been progressed in discussions held with a number of transplant centres in the UK with a view to contracting work to a selected and proven centre. Proposals for service, including the training of Irish surgical, medical, nursing and support staff in preparing for the establishment of an Irish programme, were invited from four centres.

These proposals for service have now been received by my Department and are currently being examined by a review group, comprising officials of my Department and key personnel from the Mater Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital as part of the transplant centre selection process.

There are also a number of associated issues to be discussed with the UK Department of Health regarding site selection. I anticipate that these discussions will be concluded in the near future.

The establishment of a lung and heart-lung transplant programme is an extremely complex and difficult task. A critical factor in the successful delivery of a quality transplant programme is whether the level of transplant activity in an established programme is sufficient to maintain the level of expertise required to achieve successful outcomes. It is essential to have appropriately trained staff, suitable infrastructure and a multi disciplinary approach to ensure successful outcomes. A phased approach is therefore being adopted, recognising the need to build expertise and to create a programme that is viable in terms of the outcomes for patients, whether it be at home or abroad.

In summary therefore, it is my view that a lung or heart-lung transplant programme should commence in Ireland when the necessary expertise has been developed, through a mentor relationship with the UK, to the point where we can guarantee results which are on a par with those achieved internationally. In the interim, my Department is looking to improve the level of service by UK transplant centres to Irish patients.