Gay Mitchell
Question:185 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans he has for the future of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. [24505/00]
Written Answers. - Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
Seán Ryan
Question:190 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the proposal to downgrade the Cork Blood Transfusion Centre by the transfer to testing facilities elsewhere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24553/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 190 together.
Responsibility for the organisation and management of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service – IBTS – is a matter for its board of management. The overall objective of the board is to develop a national cohesive organisation which meets the needs of the country's hospital services effectively and efficiently. This objective is based on the need to address weaknesses identified in a number of reports including the report of the expert group on the BTSB, the Bain report and the report of the tribunal of inquiry into the BTSB – Finlay report.
There is an ongoing process of change in the IBTS and a multi-million pound investment is being made in the service's development programme. Staff have recently moved into a purpose-built national blood centre at James's Street. This new facility is among the best and most modern transfusion centres in the world and includes a state of the art plasmapherisis clinic for the collection of platelets. On October 11 last, I was pleased to meet the board of the IBTS informally, and to inspect the new facilities at the national blood centre. New and improved facilities will also come on stream towards the end of November at D'Olier Street in Dublin for donors of whole blood.
Further investment has been made at the Cork centre in order to upgrade facilities and meet the requirements of the Irish Medicines Board, which is the regulatory authority. The Department made capital grants available during 1998 and 1999 to complete the following works: a new components processing laboratory; a new product storage area; an upgrade of the donor clinic; and new office accommodation. The IBTS considers that further capital investment in the Cork centre is desirable and has approved an outline planning brief in this regard. A more detailed planning brief is now being prepared and a project team has been established within the IBTS. The Department will consider any application from the IBTS for further capital investment in the Cork centre as a matter of priority.
A new decentralised collection centre has recently been established in Carlow, collecting blood from the south east and south midlands. A mobile collection team which will collect blood in the north midlands and the north east will be established in Ardee, County Louth, early in the new year.
Additional medical, scientific, technical and quality assurance staff have been recruited to continue to ensure that the service is in line with, or ahead of, major developments in international transfusion medicine. The IBTS is introducing a major new testing programme in advance of most other transfusion centres internationally. All of these developments will contribute to a modern and reinvigorated blood transfusion service to meet the challenges of the new millennium.
In addition to the supply of blood and blood products, the statutory functions of the IBTS also include the provision of advice, information and assistance to myself and my Department, and to any health authority. The IBTS also plays an important role in the organisation and provision of, or assistance to, research and training in matters relating to blood transfusion. The IBTS is carefully monitoring emerging trends which may impact on transfusion services in the future, such as the development of blood substitutes, and the emergence of new viruses.
In May 1995, a strategy to consolidate donor testing to a single location was recommended to the board of the then BTSB following a major consultancy exercise undertaken by Bain Consultants and was unanimously adopted. A report on the implications of centralising donation testing was prepared by the national medical director and the chief executive officer of the BTSB in 1998. This report, which strongly recommended that the board should centralise donation testing, was unanimously adopted by the board in July 1999. The board decided to proceed with the detailed planning for centralised testing and to address the concerns of medical practitioners in the Munster region.
In April 2000 the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children published its report on single site testing of blood products. The joint committee considered that the import of the presentations made to it might be "that the security, backup and synergy provided through enhancing the present two site testing arrangements seems significantly superior to relying on a new and as yet unproven centre for all the country's blood testing facilities". The report also refers to the need to ensure optimal patient care in accordance with international practice and to optimise resources to the maximum possible degree. It also refers to the risk of contamination of centralised laboratories and of closure due to industrial problems. I understand that the board's consideration of the report is ongoing.
The committee's report also refers to contention between two of the IBTS centres. I have raised this matter with the board and I believe that there is a strong obligation on all concerned to resolve outstanding issues that have given rise to this tension.
For the future, transfusion medicine will continue to develop and bring new challenges and demands. The IBTS will monitor these demands and adapt and change to meet requirements. It will also continue to monitor the needs of its donors, the needs of patients and hospitals and the development of international standards. I assure the Deputy that I will continue to support the IBTS in achieving and maintaining the highest standards of blood safety over the coming years and in meeting the challenges of new developments in transfusion medicine. The service's most immediate priority is to ensure an adequate and safe blood supply. I encourage members of the public to donate and to continue to support this vital service.
Question No. 186 taken with Question No. 134.
Question No. 187 taken with Question No. 139.
Question No. 188 taken with Question No. 115.