Ireland's performance is “significantly lower” in the proportion of deceased organ donation among the age group over 60, a meeting of the National Organ Donation and Transplantation Advisory Group (NODTAG) heard.
The minutes have come to realize that the importance of being offered opportunities for families to give and that age alone is not a factor. “This requires focus and cultural change. [healthcare] System” stated the minutes of the NODTAG meeting in November.
The complexity of medical care associated with older organ donors and recipients was recognized during discussion. The conference also heard that “transplant teams accept donors when medically appropriate,” based on data from the 2024 organ offer.
“important [that] If the team here did not accept the offer for any reason, the organs were provided to the UK and Europe. Overall, you need a clear picture. ”
The minutes said HSE organ donation and Ireland Transplantation (ODTI) would convene a group focused on improving population contribution rates over 60 years.
In 2023, Ireland ranked 22nd out of 22 EU countries in organ donation rates per million people aged 60 and older, according to data from international organ donation and transplantation.
A spokesman for the HSE said he was referring to the Nottag minutes to the need for “cultural change” in the system related to the donation sector after Circular Death (DCD).
“DCD occurs when a patient donates an organ after a death decision based on cardiac response criteria. We follow strict protocols before this is considered. The proportion of DCD in Ireland has been increasing in recent years, and ODTI is seeking ways to increase the scope of its DCD programme.”
In 2024, ODTI published guidelines to support staff promoting end-of-life care pathways for potential organ donors. This document attempts to clarify which patients are not eligible to become organ donors and includes guidance on age-related parameters for DCD.
The HSE added that DCD rates for age groups over 60 are the focus of discussion in many forums. A formal programme has been drafted through discussions at NODTAG. A NODTAG subgroup is “may be necessary to address this.”
