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A TOTAL OF 293 people received the gift of new and enhanced life this year thanks to organ donations.
The Irish Kidney Association said that 2013 has been a record year for organ transplants in Ireland, with 293 organs transplanted compared to the previous record of 275 in 2011.
Highlights
The 2013 preliminary figures for organ donations are:
Transplants from deceased donors:
The IKA said that the highlight achievement of the past year was the “outstanding growth in lung transplantation in the Mater Hospital from a record 14 in 2012 to a staggering 32 in 2013″.
Over the previous four years of lung transplantation from 2009 to 2012, there was a total of 31 transplants.
For IKA, the year’s second highlight was the consistently record-breaking Living Donor kidney transplant program in Beaumont Hospital.
This programme had 38 living donors and resulting transplants this year, bringing the total number of living donor kidney transplants to 155 since the service began seven years ago.
Ten of the 245 people who benefited from the generosity of donors received two organs. There were 55 liver transplants performed in St Vincent’s Hospital and 11 heart transplants also conducted in the Mater Hospital.
Beaumont Hospital
In Beaumont Hospital, a total of 195 transplant operations took place. There were 185 kidney operations, of which 38 were from living donors and 147 from deceased donors, while 10 of the 147 also had simultaneous pancreas transplants.
The Beaumont Hospital transplant team carried out 233 operations in total in 2013.
Mark Murphy, Chief Executive of the Irish Kidney Association, described transplantation as “a national team effort”.
The public are an essential element of the team with their generosity to donate organs. The organ procurement service, the acute hospitals throughout the country and the three transplant teams from St Vincent’s, the Mater and Beaumont Hospitals have all achieved outstanding results in very difficult times for the health services.
He noted that the HSE 2014 Service Plan includes investment in management of organ donation nationally.
There are currently 550 people on transplant waiting lists, of which 480 are waiting for kidneys.
For organ donor cards, Freetext DONOR to 50050 or visit the Irish Kidney Association website. Smart phone users can download the Organ Donor E-card app from the App store or Android Play Store.
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I was there when my good friend received a call to say her brother was getting a long awaited kidney transplant. It really was an amazing moment. Everyone should carry a doner card.
Opt-out instead of Opt-in would surely help the waiting list.
if people wish to donate all they have to do is tell their family and carry a card tick their licence (if they have one) or down load the app to their phone .. There is no justification for opt out system . Also according to the Irish kidney association Opt Out system will NOT increase donations. http://www.thejournal.ie/organ-donation-ireland-1006039-Jul2013/
I have had a family member recieve a transplant and it gave him 13 years of a productive life he wouldn’t have had. I work with people, from teenagers to middle aged who have had them and who are waiting. Carrying a donor card is something that we put on the long finger. If someone is dying it puts a tremendous onus on the already suffering family if a doctor approaches them about the possibility of organ donation. I carry a card and have told my family my wishes, please if you feel the same, go and get the Donor card and carry it. Doing so might bring a new life to several people.
My brother passed away in September 2 days from his 28th birthday of a brain aneurysm, he was able to donate all organs available which meant 6 people in total benefited im so proud to be able to tell people how much he helped! out of just 11 heart donors last year he was one!
Brilliant !
Angelina ,I’m so sorry for the loss of your brother ..Should have said that in the comment..
It’s unfortunate but probably not a coincidence that this article appears close to one pointing out the increase in road deaths in 2013.
Hard decisions made by many families gave quality of life to others. And I do not quibble about any salary those wonderful surgeons get.
a few brain transplants from abroad would not go amiss in this country:)
Stupid comment, even if you were joking.
I know who would be top of the q Stephen
johny whoever it is make sure its someone stooopid like ming flanagin.
You rest now Stephen.
Way past your bed time.
shut up mitch im more smarticle than you and i have a DEGREE so red thumbs if you think mitch is jealous
Also on the news today the amount off motorcycle accidents doubled which is sad but fair play for people for carrying there cards !
Donor*
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