Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 5 Nov 2002

Vol. 556 No. 3

Written Answers. - Hospital Services.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

510 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the scarcity of medical resources here requires some of those in need of heart and lung operations to travel to Britain for those operations; the resources made available to those patients, and their families, forced to do this to allow them to meet the cost of living in Britain for what might be a considerable time; the resources available for the care of the children of a lone parent forced to undergo such an operation; and his views on whether his Department is providing sufficient resources to meet those needs. [19978/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The provision of a lung transplant unit at the Mater Hospital forms part of a major capital development approved for the hospital. Considerable preparatory work has already been completed ahead of the commencement of lung transplantation in Ireland. The final report of the expert consultative group, established to advise my Department on the many issues associated with the development of this complex programme, was received in recent weeks by my Department from the Eastern Regional Health Authority. This submission is being examined as a priority within my Department.

Revenue funding in excess of €3 million has already been provided to support the enhancement of lung transplant services for Irish patients, including the appointment of key transplant personnel to this new programme. The resource requirements for the programme are being progressed in the context of the 2003 Estimates process.

Pending the establishment of lung transplantation in this country, an agreement is in place with the Freeman Hospital in the UK for the treatment of Irish patients. To date 24 patients from this country have received a transplant at the Freeman Hospital under the agreement. This contract will continue while the necessary arrangements are being progressed in terms of establishing the programme in Ireland.

Finally, it is also important to note that lungs donated in Ireland have been retrieved by the medical team at Newcastle and have helped to facilitate this additional transplant work at Newcastle for the benefit of Irish patients. The information in relation to travelling and subsistence expenses requested by the Deputy is not readily available to my Department. The information is being collected by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.