Vol. 514 No. 4
146 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will allocate £5 million to the Blood Transfusion Service Board to construct new premises in the Cork area; and the plans, if any, he has to allow the Cork unit to operate at its present level of activity. [4480/00]
Responsibility for the organisation and management of the national blood transfusion service rests with the Blood Transfusion Service Board. It is a key priority of the BTSB to develop a modern transfusion service in line with current and emerging international standards. Transfusion medicine is undergoing rapid change. Significant changes are taking place internationally in relation to the collection, processing, testing and use of blood. The level of activity at the BTSB is dictated to a significant degree by the demands of hospitals for blood components and by the rapid pace of developments in transfusion medicine. The volume of whole blood necessary to meet hospital demands continues to decrease nationally. In 1999 a reduction of approximately 5% took place. The BTSB considers that further decreases in blood requirements will continue as a result of more efficient management of the blood supply involving the BTSB and hospitals. In addition, hospital based surgical transfusion support programmes are also available which reduce the need for blood transfusions. Significant developments are also taking place within the pharmaceutical industry in developing haemoglobin solutions as substitutes for human blood. In parallel, the BTSB is also required to meet more demanding regulatory requirements as specified by the Irish Medicines Board. It is also required to introduce proven technologies and new screening tests in line with international practice. These requirements also impact on the current and future level of activity at the BTSB.
For my part, I will ensure that the board is adequately resourced so that it continues to meet international standards effectively and expeditiously. In that regard, resources are available to the board to recruit on a joint basis with the Southern Health Board, an additional consultant haematologist who will be based at the Cork centre. This appointment has significant potential to enhance and develop existing services at the Cork centre and in the Southern Health Board.
As regards capital developments at the Cork centre, I outlined the current position on this matter in my parliamentary reply to the Deputy on 8 February, 2000. The position is that my Department will consider an application from the BTSB for further capital investment in the Cork centre as a matter of priority. A detailed planning brief is currently being prepared and a project team has been appointed within the BTSB. It is not possible at this stage to assess the likely costs involved. As the Cork centre is located on the campus of St. Finnbarr's Hospital, the BTSB has also written to the Southern Health Board seeking discussions in relation to its leasehold interest in the site.
