Lack of pancreas transplants at Dublin hospital 'a risk to patient health'

A transplant surgeon said today that patients' health is being put at risk by the lack of pancreas transplants at Beaumont Hospital.

Dr David Hickey - who worked for the hospital until recently - says Type 1 diabetics suffering from renal failure have been left in limbo by the hospital.

The hospital says it, along with St Vincent's, have agreed to develop a collaborative approach to pancreas transplant - with joint clinics set to begin next month.

Dr Hickey will attend a meeting a Liberty Hall in Dublin today to discuss the issue.

"Time is ticking in their biological clocks … as soon as they are transplanted, the better outcome in the long term for them," he said.

"So those patients now have been waiting a while but there has been no activity now for the last six months, so it is a very difficult situation for them, and they're not getting any answers as to when it will be up and running again."