I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 157 together.
Responsibility for the organisation and administration of the national blood transfusion service rests with the Blood Transfusion Service Board. The background to this matter is as follows.
In May 1995 a strategy to consolidate donor testing to a single location was recommended to the board of the BTSB following a major consultancy exercise undertaken by Bain Consultants. The Government at that time agreed to fund this exercise in order to improve the management and organisation of the BTSB. In May 1995 the board unanimously adopted the recommendations in the report. A significant number of these recommendations has been implemented, involving substantial investment in equipment and premises, a new IT system and new scientific and technical posts. The report recognised that the current IT system was a barrier to implementation of single site testing. In this regard a new IT system will be operational shortly as a result of an investment of approximately £4 million.
In February 1998 the BTSB decided that PCR testing should be introduced to further improve blood safety. In line with international experience, the board decided that PCR testing at both centres could not be justified and that it would, therefore, be introduced at its new national headquarters. This will involve testing blood samples from all donations in the country in the national headquarters. In light of this decision and other anticipated developments in transfusion medicine, the board requested the chief executive officer and the national medical director to assess whether all serological testing, not just PCR testing, should be centralised. A report to the board by external consultants in April 1998 on the review of the Cork facility also recommended that the centralisation of testing activities should be kept under constant review.
As requested by the board, the chief executive officer and the national medical director undertook a detailed examination to assess whether all serological testing should be centralised. Their report strongly recommended the development of single site testing. This recommendation was unanimously adopted by the board which is satisfied from its own experience and from the experience of international transfusion centres that it can meet on time and without fail the blood component needs of hospitals nationally from a single testing site. The board authorised the executive to proceed with the detailed planning for single site testing. The board has committed itself to consultation with blood users in the Munster region in order to address their concerns.
I am aware that a group of health care providers in Munster prepared the report referred to by the Deputies. The group presented it to the board of the BTSB at its meeting in Cork on 13 October last. I understand that the board considered the report in detail at its meeting yesterday and that the chairperson of the BTSB will be responding to the group shortly.