Covid-19 has had a “serious unwelcome impact” on patients awaiting organ transplants, many of whom had been forced to cocoon inside, the chairman of the Irish Kidney Association has said. Ian O’Doherty (46), from Castletroy, Co Limerick, has been in the Mater hospital since last July, awaiting a heart transplant. Last year, a total of 190 organ transplants were carried out despite the coronavirus pandemic, 84 less than in 2019. This included 123 kidney transplants, 37 liver transplants, 16 lung transplants, nine heart transplants and five pancreas transplants. At any given time there are between 550 and 600 people on waiting lists for organ transplants.

Source: The Irish Times March 23, 2021 16:14 UTC