Good news for mayo patients awaiting transplants

MAYO patients awaiting simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants have received good news today.

As a result of a number of parliamentary questions by Mayo Fine Gael Deputy Michelle Mulherin, Health Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed approval has been given for the appointment of a new consultant transplant surgeon for St. Vincent’s University Hospital to support the pancreatic transplant programme and recruitment will now progress.

St. Vincent’s has also established a link with the pancreas transplant programme in Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary Hospital to provide oversight of the transfer of the pancreas transplant service.

The ministers confirmed to Deputy Mulherin that six patients are currently waiting for simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants and a further three patients are waiting for pancreas only transplants.  

In recent months Beaumont Hospital has been collaborating with St Vincent’s University Hospital in relation to a combined approach to kidney/pancreas transplants, as well as the development of an intra-abdominal organ retrieval service.  

As St Vincent’s University Hospital is already established as the national liver transplant centre, and is a designated centre for pancreas cancer services, it is well placed to undertake pancreas transplants.  

The arrangements being put in place will involve transplant surgeons from both St Vincent’s University Hospital and Beaumont Hospital working together on the St Vincent’s campus.  

'The two hospitals, together with the HSE and my department, are putting the necessary arrangements and protocols in place to facilitate the commencement of pancreas transplantation in St Vincent’s University Hospital in the coming weeks, should a suitable donor/recipient match occur,' added the minister.