Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 12 Apr 2001

Vol. 534 No. 5

Written Answers - Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

117 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the concern expressed by the chairman of the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service regarding the financial situation of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. [11127/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I am aware that the chairperson of the board expressed concern at a recent board meeting about the financial situation involving specific items including its new IT system and the additional costs of measures being implemented by the board to further reduce the possible risk of transmission of vCJD by blood transfusion. I have assured the board of my commitment to ensure that it is adequately resourced to introduce necessary new measures to further improve blood safety. The IBTS will discuss the costs of these measures with my Department which includes additional donor recruitment programmes which are necessary arising from the decision to defer donors who resided in the UK for a cumulative period of five years. In relation to the IT programme, my Department is finalising discussions with the IBTS concerning additional investment in this state of the art system which I understand will be operational in a matter of weeks.

In addition, there will also be financial implications for the IBTS arising from the application of strategies which reduce or eliminate the use of blood components as part of the management of patients requiring surgery in line with the recently issued Guideline for Transfusion of Red Blood Cells in Surgical Patients. The board is fully aware of the necessity to ensure efficiencies in the provision of services which are funded by hospitals which purchase blood and blood products.