Health Services Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Questions (477)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

477. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there is only one bone marrow nurse in the country with responsibility for recruiting potential donors; if so, his views on whether this is adequate given the size of the country and the time sensitivity involved in this type of potential donation; if he has plans to increase the number of nurses travelling the country; if so, the timeline within which they will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36357/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Bone marrow transplants can be an option for patients suffering from certain types of leukaemia or other fatal blood disorders, where the patient's own marrow stops producing blood cells. The most suitable donors are fully matched family members. If a suitable donor is not available within the family, it is necessary to seek an unrelated donor.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) maintains a register of people who are willing to donate their bone marrow if they are found to match a patient who needs such a transplant. This Irish Unrelated Bone Marrow Registry is part of a worldwide network of unrelated donor registries.

One bone marrow donor recruitment nurse is currently employed by the IBTS and this person attends blood donation clinics throughout the country with the aim of recruiting bone marrow donors.  This model of recruitment is currently under review by the IBTS.