14/11/2003

Pancreatic transplants set to treble in five years

Pancreatic transplant operations are expected to treble to around 150 a year by 2009, the government has announcement today.

Pancreas transplants are usually combined with kidney transplants for people with Type 1 diabetes and established renal failure. Together they remove the need for both insulin injections and dialysis, a life-changing event for recipients and their families.

The government has said that intends to make pancreatic transplantation a national specialist service from 1 April 2004. The increase in pancreatic transplantations should meet the national demand by 2009, Health Minister Rosie Winterton said.

She added: "I am very pleased to make this announcement on World Diabetes Day, especially as this years focus is kidney care, and I congratulate all the staff involved in this programme on the work they are doing.

"A combined pancreatic and kidney transplant removes the need for both insulin injections and dialysis and is therefore a truly life-changing event for recipients and their families.

"The national commissioning of pancreatic transplants will ensure a high quality, expert service and equal opportunity of access for patients requiring this operation no matter where they live in England and Wales."

Benet Middleton, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK, said that the announcement was "good news" for people with kidney disease caused by diabetes.

"A combined kidney and pancreas transplant will mean that for some people they will not only have an end to dialysis but will also have a cure for the underlying cause."

Once a patient has undergone the transplantation of kidney and pancreas they no longer need to undergo dialysis or inject insulin. Transplantation of the pancreas is of proven benefit to a small defined group of people with Type 1 diabetes with established renal failure.

Pancreas transplantation is undertaken to prolong life and in some patients it may also halt or reverse some of the secondary complications of diabetes. A combined pancreas and kidney transplant (compared to kidney transplant alone) increases 10-year survival from 30% to 80%. It is usually carried out at the same time as a kidney transplant but can be done as a stand alone procedure.

(gmcg)

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