Vol. 557 No. 6
47 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report on the review of the way in which pathology samples went missing in the Mid-Western Health Board will be published; his views on whether a public inquiry is now required to establish the facts surrounding both the health issues and the missing pathology samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22888/02]
176 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children when the report on the review of the way in which pathology samples went missing in the Mid-Western Health Board will be published; his views on whether a public inquiry is now required to establish the facts surrounding both the health issues and the missing pathology samples; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23089/02]
189 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will consider holding a public sworn inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of human blood samples of persons (details supplied) in Askeaton, Limerick, from the Mid-Western Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23175/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 176 and 189 together.
Due to concerns raised by the family in question, the chief executive officer of the Mid-Western Health Board set up an internal inquiry into the issue of these missing blood samples. The report of the inquiry group concluded that a combination of errors, both human and of the systems involved, had contributed to the problem. The report made a number of recommendations, including the need for improvements in the receipt, tracking, testing and storage of samples at the pathology laboratory in Limerick Regional Hospital. A copy of the report was provided to the family on 16 March 2001. The Mid-Western Health Board has advised my Department that it is actively pursuing the implementation of all the recommendations contained in the report. Against this background, I do not have any plans to initiate an inquiry on the lines suggested by the Deputies.
