MORE PEOPLE THAN ever received transplants in Ireland last year, a new report shows.
However, it comes with a warning that more organ donations are still needed.
The HSE’s National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office (NODTO) annual report details that 294 transplants were carried out in 2013, up from 275 in 2011.
These operations were carried out on 246 people, with the majority being kidney transplants at 185.
There were 55 liver, 32 lung, and 11 heart transplants.
NODTO director Jim Egan described the figures as “wonderful”, and noted that it is the first report that details survival rates.
“We are delighted that Ireland is comparing favourably with UK and European data and that the survival rates are favourable,” he said.
Survival rates
Ireland’s survival rates compared to the UK paints a mixed picture, with marginally lower (0-2 per cent) survival rates for renal transplants, but with significantly more (19 per cent) patients surviving paediatric renal transplant grafts.
At 81 per cent, we are 26 per cent higher than the international average for lung transplant patients surviving up to 5 years after the operation.
When it comes to organ donation rates per million of population, we rank in the middle of the EU, just behind Finland and the United Kingdom.
Croatia tops the list with 36, while Bulgaria comes last at one.
However, there is still a need in Ireland for more donations, the HSE warned.
“More organ donations are needed for those who are still awaiting a transplant,” Egan said.
I would encourage everyone to have a conversation with their loved ones and let their wishes be known about organ donation.
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