Vol. 478 No. 1
85 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health if all persons of whom the Blood Transfusion Service Board is aware who have received potentially infected blood or blood products have been notified; and if the relatives of the deceased people of whom the Blood Transfusion Service Board are aware and who received potentially infected blood or blood products, have been notified.[10696/97]
Limerick East): In the case of all recipients identified and traced by the BTSB under the targeted lookback programme either the recipient or the recipient's GP has been advised that the recipient may have received a potentially infected blood or blood product.
Under this programme there are currently 59 persons who have been identified by the BTSB as recipients of potentially infected blood or blood products who have not been traced to date for various reasons. Considerable effort to ascertain the current location of these persons is being made as a matter of urgency in order to advise them through their GPs that they may have received a potentially infected product and offer testing. This approach is in line with the main priority and the principal focus of the resources being applied under the targeted lookback programme which is to ensure that all recipients who were exposed to a potentially infected product are identified, traced and offered testing. Due to the demands on the BTSB, it has been necessary to give priority to tracing and informing living recipients.
To date, the BTSB has not sought to inform relatives of deceased persons that their deceased relatives may have received potentially hepatitis C infected units in the course of treatment. The BTSB is currently reviewing this matter in the light of the experience and evidence acquired in the lookback programme and particular attention is being addressed to the extremely small number of cases where hepatitis C may have contributed to the death of the deceased.
86 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the results of the most recent inspections of the Blood Transfusion Service Board by the Irish Medicines Board. [10697/97]
Limerick East): I understand from the Irish Medicines Board that its most recent inspection of the Blood Transfusion Service Board took place from 14 to 16 April. As the inspector who carried out the inspection is abroad on official EU business at present, a report of the inspection has not yet been prepared but I understand that the outcome of the inspection was satisfactory. The Irish Medicines Board has briefed the Blood Transfusion Service Board on its initial findings and a formal report will be made as soon as possible.
It is not my intention to publish the detailed report of each inspection but the Deputy will be aware that a recommendation of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Blood Transfusion Service Board is that the Irish Medicines Board is to make an annual report to me which is to include the results of its inspections of the Blood Transfusion Service Board and that this report is to be made public.This recommendation will be fully and promptly implemented.
