Rise In Number Of People Waiting On Organ Transplants

The number of people waiting for organ transplants in Ireland is continuing to increase, according to the Director of HSE Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland.

Professor Jim Egan made the statement after the HSE Organ Donation and Transplant Ireland (ODTI) 2015 Annual Report was published today, 05 May.

The report outlines the main activities of ODTI in 2015, and includes activity and outcomes in organ donation and transplant in Ireland, and outlines plans and goals for ODTI for 2016.

Last year a total of 266 people received a life saving organ transplant thanks to the generosity of 81 families donating their organs to their loved ones and 33 people donating their kidney to a family member in 2015.

Professor Egan said: "There were 648 patients waiting for an organ transplant at the end of 2015. At the end of 2015, there were 2,015 people in Ireland on renal dialysis with End Stage Kidney Failure (ESKF) for which the only treatment option for many is kidney transplant. This figure has doubled since 2003. A new record of 36 was set for lung transplants in Ireland in 2015, which is one of the highest rates in Europe. 61 liver transplants and 16 heart transplants also took place. Pancreas transplant has relocated to St. Vincent's University Hospital and a team are now in place to deliver the transplant programme. Most importantly, the ODTI office would like to acknowledge the courage and generosity of families that have donated their loved one's organs.

"During 2015 the first innovative new lung transplant procedure using ex-vivo lung perfusion, the first such operation of its kind in Ireland was performed at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. This new technique greatly enhances the potential lung donor pool. The first ever combined heart and lung transplant was also carried out at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital in 2015. When a donation does occur and a patient receives life saving organ transplant, outcomes for transplant recipients in Ireland rank amongst the best in Europe. Ireland has a strong record in caring for its transplant recipients."

(CD/LM)