National Liver Transplant Programme

The National Liver Transplant Programme has been running at St. Vincent’s University Hospital since 1993 and has performed over 1000 liver transplants to date.

The national centre, which serves patients from all over Ireland, is led by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals with expertise in liver disease and liver surgery including transplantation.

The comprehensive multidisciplinary approach to liver disease has resulted in an increased rate of referral of patients for consideration for liver transplantation – with success rates in line with the best results achieved in UK and European centres.

The National Pancreas Transplant Programme is also based at St. Vincent’s University Hospital.

Background

The National Liver Transplant Programme was launched in January 1993, with the official opening taking place in October 1993 by Brendan Howlin, the then Minister for Health. The development of the programme in Ireland was phased over several years and included an initial two-year liaison with King’s College Hospital in London, who already had a fully developed programme in liver transplantation. During this period, all members of the future Irish transplant team – medical, nursing and paramedical – spent time training in liver transplantation at King’s College Hospital. The links with Kings College Hospital have been maintained over the years to provide a second opinion for complex cases.

Consultants

• Prof. Emir Hoti
• Prof. Tom Gallagher
• Prof. Ross MacNicholas
• Dr. John Boylan
• Dr. Niamh Conlon
• Dr. Zita Galvin
• Dr. Audrey Dillon
• Dr. Omar Elsherif
• Dr Masood Iqbal
• Ms Fiona Hand
• Dr. Hassan Shakeban
• Dr. Shrijit Nair
• Dr David Garcia-Salazar

Referral for Liver Transplantation

To refer a patient for consideration for liver transplant assessment, please complete the referral form and email to liver.secretary@svuh.ie or post to National Liver Transplant Unit, St. Rita’s, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, D04T6F4.

We welcome any recent clinic letters or further information as well.

Incomplete forms maybe returned.

For any urgent referrals please all main switch and ask to speak to the Liver Registrar on Call. Email details to liverconsults@svhg.ie, but it is advised to phone first.

For any Radiology and Histology Multidisciplinary team referral, please send to Liver MDT Co-Ordinator, Liver Unit, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, D04T6F4 or email to livermedmdtt@svhg.ie

Clinics

• Liver Transplant Clinic

Other useful contact details

• Liver unit secretaries
  • email: liver.secretary@svuh.ie
  • tel:(01) 221 4248 / 4855
  • fax: (01) 221 3407
• St. Brigid’s Ward
  • tel:(01) 221 4786 / 4787
• Hepatitis C specialist nurse
  • tel:(01) 221 4181 / 4323
• Endoscopy
  • tel:(01) 221 4416/4559
• Liver transplant coordinators
  • email: liver.transplant@st-vincents.ie
  • tel:(01) 209 4707
  • fax: (01) 283 7724