Vol. 532 No. 1
190 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the situation where the Irish Medical Organisation is still advising its members not to submit for blood tests if they have a needle-stick injury until the Health Service Employers Agency and his Department clarify a number of issues relating to their redeployment and retraining. [6562/01]
The Health Service Employers Agency has held a series of meetings with the Irish Medical Organisation in order to resolve the impasse on this important issue. The Irish Medical Organisation had instructed its members not to furnish any information nor participate in testing programmes in the absence of any agreement governing the testing of doctors in this regard and specifically any provision for the retraining, redeployment and compensation for doctors who test positive.
At the most recent meeting which was held on 8 February 2001, the Health Service Employers Agency put forward a set of proposals which comprehensively addressed the Irish Medical Organisation's concerns. These proposals are underpinned by existing superannuation provisions, the right to recourse to law in pursuit of compensation and the introduction of an innovative medical indemnity scheme. The Irish Medical Organisation was requested to withdraw its instruction to its members, without prejudice to their position, for a period of six weeks to allow for support structures to be put in place for the implementation of the proposals. This approach was not acceptable to the Irish Medical Organisation and further extensive clarification has now been sought on the proposals. The Health Service Employers Agency is readdressing these issues and again seeking the withdrawal of the Irish Medical Organisation's instruction which has potentially serious consequences for both individual doctors and their patients. A significant delay has already arisen in the resolution of this issue and I am most anxious to have these screening protocols introduced as a matter of urgency.
