Bernard Allen
Ceist:586 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has had discussions with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service regarding the investigation of a person (details supplied). [1356/01]
Written Answers. - Irish Blood Transfusion Service.
On 12 December, I met the chairman, chief executive officer and national medical director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, for a briefing on emerging strategies to further minimise the possible risk of transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion. Before this meeting the chairman spoke to me and advised me that at its meeting on 8 November 2000, the board of the IBTS decided to commission an independent investigation in relation to the person referred to by the Deputy. I was informed that the proposed investigation relates to allegations of ongoing undermining of the position of the chairman, the board, the chief executive officer and the national medical director of such seriousness as to threaten the proper conduct of the IBTS's business, failure to observe normal employment protocol in observing appropriate reporting relationships and breach of expressed and implied terms of contract. The chairman told me that the person concerned had declined to participate in the above process and that she proposed to raise this matter at the board meeting scheduled for 13 December. I have no further information in relation to the current position on this matter. As this is an internal human resource issue which is the responsibility of the IBTS, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
The IBTS operates in a fast moving and challenging area of the health system in which there is a full and demanding role for the board, man agement and the entire staff of the organisations at all locations. There is a responsibility on all concerned to resolve the difficulties which exist between the Cork centre of the IBTS and its national headquarters to ensure a truly national service and to progress with its core business of developing best transfusion practice for the future. I might add that recent public disagreements between the IBTS and the Southern Health Board are not conducive to the effective co-operation and partnership between complementary organisations which is to be expected and which prevails generally in the health system. This is all the more regrettable at the present time when the energies of the IBTS and hospitals generally should be focused on developing best transfusion practice including important strategies to address the possible risk of the transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion.
Question No. 587 answered with Question No. 585.