Beaumont rejects transplant delay claim

BEAUMONT Hospital has strongly rejected any suggestion that kidney transplants are being delayed as a result of a psychologist being on maternity leave.

Dublin North TD Clare Daly (SP) recently raised the matter in the Dail where she put it to Minister for Health James Reilly that a backlog in kidney transplants has been caused by a lack of cover for a psychologist who is on maternity leave.

Deputy Daly asked if the Minister’s attention has been

“drawn to the situation in Beaumont Hospital, whereby kidney transplants which the hospital aims to carry out within three to six months of the initial test are taking up to 14 months

?.

Minister Reilly responded with an assurance that he was determined to address the issues that cause unacceptable delays in patients receiving treatment in hospital.

However, a spokesperson for the chief executive of Beaumont Hospital told Northside People that the information supplied by Deputy Daly was wholly inaccurate.

“I can assure you that there has been no delay or backlog in transplants due to psychology services,

? she stated.

“All patients who require it have access to psychology.

?

The spokesperson said she did not have transplant waiting times to hand to discuss whether a backlog existed.

A total of 172 living and deceased donor kidney transplants were carried out in Beaumont Hospital in 2010. This figure rose to 192 in 2011.

Meanwhile, a Special Delivery Unit (SDU) has been established with the aim of unblocking access to acute services by improving the flow of patients through the system, and by streamlining waiting lists, including referrals from GPs.

The SDU is working closely with its partner agencies, mainly the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).