Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
845. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the closure of the laboratories at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service in St. Finbarr's Hospital, Cork; the number of persons affected by the closure; the steps that have been taken to identify alternative positions for these persons within the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38299/15]
View answerThe new Irish Blood Transfusion Service centre planned for the grounds of Cork University Hospital campus will deliver a cross-matching service for hospitals in Cork and a reference serology service for hospitals in Munster. It will also continue to provide a donation clinic for whole blood, platelet apheresis and a service to Haemochromatosis patients. A therapeutic apheresis service will be provided for patients in Cork hospitals and blood and platelets will continue to be stored and distributed through the Cork Centre.
The IBTS has reviewed all aspects of their operations with a view to delivering better value for money, while at the same time ensuring that services are delivered to the highest standards of quality. This resulted in changes to collection teams, administrative services and laboratory services. The changes include the closure of the processing laboratory in the Cork Centre on 23 October 2015.
The closure of laboratories in Cork will impact directly on a relatively small number of employees. The options available to these employees include redeployment to other areas in the IBTS, redeployment to the HSE and voluntary redundancy.
