Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 1

Written Answers. - Health Board Services.

John Gormley

Ceist:

366 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has ascertained the reason there is a discrepancy between a person (details supplied), a public health expert at the National Disease Surveillance Centre, and the Mid-Western Health Board's consultant pathologist (details supplied), on whether test results were ever received on blood, hair and urine samples given to the Mid-Western Health Board by persons (details supplied) in Askeaton between 1997 and 1998; if there were any test results from this family's samples returned; if so, the nature of the results revealed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23646/02]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

As the Deputy is aware, due to concerns raised by the family in question, the chief executive officer of the Mid-Western Health Board set up an internal inquiry into the issue of these missing blood samples. The report of the inquiry group concluded that a combination of errors, both human and of the system involved, had contributed to the problem. Since the matter raised by the Deputy is a matter for the Mid-Western Health Board my Department has asked the chief executive officer of the board to reply to the Deputy.