News Article
Shortage of transplant nurses could close national transplant unit in Ireland
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
A chronic shortage of transplant nurses could force the closure of Ireland's National Liver Transplant Unit within 2 months, according to an article in the January 23 issue of the British medical journal The Lancet.
A chronic shortage of transplant nurses could force the closure of Ireland's National Liver Transplant Unit within 2 months, according to an article in the January 23 issue of the British medical journal The Lancet.
Despite an international search for qualified nurses, the unit has been forced to reduce the recommended size of its on-call teams. If the unit closes, people needing liver transplants will be send to other countries.
The possible closure comes at a time when worldwide projections show an increasing need for liver transplants due to a surge in the incidence of hepatitis C. In Ireland between 1991 and 1994, 1000 women were infected with hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood.
A chronic shortage of transplant nurses could force the closure of Ireland's National Liver Transplant Unit within 2 months, according to an article in the January 23 issue of the British medical journal The Lancet.
Despite an international search for qualified nurses, the unit has been forced to reduce the recommended size of its on-call teams. If the unit closes, people needing liver transplants will be send to other countries.
The possible closure comes at a time when worldwide projections show an increasing need for liver transplants due to a surge in the incidence of hepatitis C. In Ireland between 1991 and 1994, 1000 women were infected with hepatitis C after receiving contaminated blood.
This article can be viewed as: Public
