Varadkar to seek assurances pancreas transplant programme will start in September

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar says he has been assured by both Beaumont and Vincent's Hospitals that they will have a pancreas transplant programme in place by September.

A petition was handed in to Beaumont Hospital today calling for patients awaiting pancreas transplants not to be abandoned.

The transplant programme has been suspended since the retirement of Dr David Hickey, and the hospital is now in the process of appointing a new consultant to carry out the procedure.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar said he would meet the key partners over the next few days.

"There is obviously a concern out there…(so) I'm going to seek assurances that it's going to happen," he said.