The proposed Cork Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) Centre which was
been repeatedly promised but not delivered must get a firm date according to
Fine Gael TD Bernard Allen.
Deputy Allen who is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee said that
plans were submitted to the Government for the centre five years ago and
nothing has happened since.
According to Health Minister Mary Harney the issue will be raised at cabinet
level when meetings resume next month.
Despite this, Deputy Allen says that verbal commitments have been repeatedly
given including by former health minister and Cork TD Micheál Martin, but to
no avail.
Blood testing services were centralised in Dublin in 1999 and the then
existing centre at St Finbarr's in Cork was set to close. This policy was
changed however in 2002 following an independent report stated that
dual-site testing represented best practice in the field internationally.
As part of the new approach a new centre was to be opened in Cork plans for
which where submitted by the IBTS to the government in 2003.
Deputy Allen says that ever since, progress has stalled and he remains
unconvinced that the current health minister will progress it either.
"Micheál Martin told me this would get the go-ahead at the 'earliest
possible date' four years ago. Clearly that was not true as nothing has
happened since. We now have Mary Harney giving the subject the same
meaningless spin. I will be calling on her to clearly state where we are and
when they plan, if ever, to go ahead with this vital piece of medical
infrastructure".