A shortage of organ donors resulted in a higher number of patients remaining on the long waiting list.
With around 500 people currently on the waiting list, a new organ donation was made by Dr. Katherine Motherway, former head of the intensive care unit at Limerick University Hospital. Last year, only 282 ports were completed.
Dr. Motherway said donations and transplants were “one of the greatest medical advances of the 20th century.”
However, despite many advances, it requires support from the public.
“The demand for organ transplants is rising given the advances in transplant care, but the shortage of donors has led to a higher number of patients on the waiting list,” she said Friday.
“Around 500 people in Ireland are waiting for a transplant at a time. In 2023, 282 transplants were performed, and in 2022, both organ donors died, leaving the number of transplants at 250.”
She spoke before the European Donation Day, which will be held on Saturday, October 5th. “On this day, we are thinking about the gifts of their lives to donors and others,” said Dr. Motherway, HSE clinical lead in organ donation.
“We would like to thank our colleagues around the country who have supported organ donation and transplants here in Ireland over the past 60 years.”
She added: “Our transplant recipients and our caring for them, we acknowledge that without donors, our transplant program cannot provide them with hope and opportunities for a better life.”
HSE asks anyone considering donating their organs to have this conversation with friends and family so that everyone knows their plans. Those who choose to donate their organs can save eight lives and improve the lives of more than 100 more through tissue and cell donations.
The new Act, the Human Organization Act of 2024, means that it is expected that people who have not registered their names in the “Opto-Out Register” will soon be able to support organ donations.
“If you are in the opt-out register, the next relative will not be asked about organ donation,” HSE said.
“Even if you're not on the opt-out register, your family will still be asked to agree to organ donation, so it's important for everyone to talk to their loved ones about organ donation and let them know your intentions.”
HSE shares videos and interviews with donors on their website. hse.ie/organdonation
