Vol. 512 No. 7
65 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which he will resolve the conflict within the Blood Transfusion Service Board concerning the closure of blood testing services in Cork; the plans, if any, he has to ensure that the threatened strike does not go ahead and thus safeguard blood donations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27081/99]
The Blood Transfusion Service Board is conducting a major blood procurement campaign at present. The multimedia advertising campaign commenced on 15 November 1999 and will run over the Christmas and millennium periods. The aim of this campaign is to ensure that there are sufficient blood supplies available to hospitals to meet medical and surgical needs and the demands of accident and emergency services. Blood donors throughout the country have responded very generously to this campaign and I encourage eligible persons to donate over the coming weeks. Special donor clinics have been arranged to facilitate donors who wish to donate over the holiday period. I express my sincere appreciation to donors for their generous efforts on behalf of patients in our hospitals.
As regards the threatened industrial action by donor attendants at the BTSB, I understand management proposals have been accepted by the staff and the threat of industrial action has been withdrawn.
As regards the testing of donations, responsibility for the organisation and administration of the national blood transfusion service rests with the Blood Transfusion Service Board. In July 1999, the board decided unanimously to authorise the executive to proceed with the detailed planning for centralised testing. This decision was based on a report prepared by its chief executive officer and national medical director, which strongly recommended centralised testing. The board is committed to consultation with blood users in the Munster region to address its concerns.
