Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 2

Written Answers. - Missing Blood Samples.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

300 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will initiate a new inquiry into the disappearance of blood samples from persons (details supplied); if he has satisfied himself that every effort has been made to establish the reasons for the disappearance of the samples; his views on the extraordinary coincidence of the loss of two sets of samples that were posted to the State laboratory and which had not been received at that location; if he is satisfied that with the loss of samples, and in the absence of the opportunity to test the samples, that there is no risk to the health or well-being of the persons involved; if he is satisfied that his Department carried out all appropriate investigations to ensure that the health and well-being of the persons has not been compromised due to the loss of the samples; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the persons concerned continue to report experience of ill-health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26884/03]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The Mid-Western Health Board, MWHB, carried out a comprehensive inquiry into the issue of missing samples in relation to the family concerned and a copy of the report of the inquiry group was given to the family. With regard to the samples reportedly sent to the State laboratory, the inquiry group established that the laboratory had no record of receiving such samples, that the MWHB had not been invoiced for any such work, and that there were no postal records in the hospital laboratory of any such samples having been sent. The report concluded that a combination of errors, both human and of the systems involved, had contributed to the problem. The report made a number of recommendations, including the need for improvements in the receipt, tracking, testing and storage of samples at the pathology laboratory in Limerick Regional Hospital. The MWHB has advised my Department that it is actively pursuing the implementation of all the recommendations contained in the report. Against this background I have no plans at present to initiate a public inquiry.

Some untested samples from the family concerned remain in storage awaiting instructions from the family physician as to what testing is required. The MWHB have advised my Department that the family was recently contacted in an attempt to establish how they wish to proceed regarding the testing of these samples. The Deputy may wish to note that I have met the family concerned on a number of occasions. On the latter two occasions, in November 2001 and February 2003, I suggested that they should request their GP to organise an independent assessment of their current health status and that my Department would fund this assessment. The MWHB has indicated that it strongly advised the family concerned that they be referred to an expert in environmental medicine anywhere in the world, to be paid for by the board and that the family have not taken up this offer.