BEAUMONT Hospital has confirmed at least seven donor kidneys were sent to the UK since 2006 instead of being retained for Irish patients.

The information comes in the wake of Sunday Tribune revelations that three donor organs, including two kidneys, were transported to UK medical facilities due to capacity issues at Beaumont.

The Irish Kidney Association (IKA) said Ireland should be able to use all of its donor kidneys with 580 people currently on the waiting list.

Beaumont Hospital confirmed that a further seven kidneys were sent to the UK in the past four years, but said this happens only in the highly unusual event that suitable matches cannot be found within Ireland.

Beaumont Hospital said: "All donor kidneys are initially matched against the full list of patients on the national waiting list to establish suitability and best match.

"In rare circumstances, no more than once or twice a year on average, a donated kidney is found to be unsuitable for anyone on the Irish list."

A report from Britain's NHS shows a total of 17 organs were moved from Ireland to the UK between April 2008 and March 2009.