Current arrangements to provide treatment for persons who contracted hepatitis C as a result of a blood or blood product transfusion encompass both secondary care hospital services and primary care services. In the case of persons so infected, the Health (Amendment) Act, 1996 provides statutory entitlement to a range of primary health care services, free of charge. The services in place include general practitioner services and drugs and medicines for all medical conditions, home nursing services, home help services, dental and ophthalmic services and counselling services. Each health board has appointed a liaison officer to ensure the smooth operation of the delivery of services under the Act, and to act as a contact point for individuals and for the various interest groups whose members avail of services under the Act. My Department maintains contact with the representative organisations and the health board liaison officers to ensure that any issues in relation to service provision that arise can be tackled quickly and effectively.
In relation to secondary care services, treatment for those who contracted hepatitis C from the receipt of blood or blood products is being provided at special consultant staffed clinics at six designated hospitals: Beaumont Hospital; the Mater Hospital; St. Vincent's Hospital and St. James's Hospital in Dublin, Cork University Hospital and University College Hospital, Galway. These services, provided under the Health Act, 1970, are free of charge and include access to both in-patient and out-patient treatment, as required. Special funding has been and will continue to be provided by my Department for these services, to ensure that the needs of hepatitis C patients are met.
In addition, in November 1996, the consultative council on hepatitis C was formally established to advise and make recommendations to me as Minister on all aspects of hepatitis C, including health and counselling services and the funding, organisation and delivery of these services. The council also monitors the healthcare requirements and other needs of hepatitis C sufferers.
I understand that concerns have been expressed recently at the consultative council in relation to the services at one of the designated units and that the council will be making certain recommendations to me on this matter shortly. My Department will address these concerns in association with the hospital involved as a matter of priority.
As regards counselling, it is recognised that both medical and non-medical counselling has an important role in assisting persons diagnosed positive for hepatitis C who may require support. There is a range of such services available. General practitioners provide a pre-test counselling service and a counselling service to persons diagnosed positive for hepatitis C virus-antibodies. Counselling services are also made available by health boards under the Health (Amendment) Act, 1996 and provided by hepatology nurses in the six designated units.
