Vol. 442 No. 5
175 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Health the support made available by his Department to the women who tested positive to the Anti D injection; the proposals he has for the treatment of these women; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Counselling is available to those who have tested positive for hepatitis C under the national screening programme. Many people are counselled by their own general practitioner, but may be referred by their general practitioners for counselling to a medical counsellor at the Blood Transfusion Service Board or may themselves elect to attend the medical counsellors at the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
The Blood Transfusion Service Board is providing counselling at its headquarters in Dublin and at the regional centre in Cork.
Counselling is offered at all stages of the screening.
Treatment for those who test positive for hepatitis C antibodies is being provided at the following six hospitals: St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin; Beaumont Hospital Dublin; Mater Hospital, Dublin; St. James's Hospital, Dublin; Cork Regional Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway.
The treatment initially involves an outpatient visit at a special consultant staffed clinic which may be followed by a short admission for clinical investigation and follow-up treatment, if required. The treatment is being provided by the public hospital service free of charge.
