THE PD leader, Ms Mary Harney, was severely criticised for raising fears among those needing blood transfusions while undergoing surgery. The most critical members did not actually name her, but it was clear they were referring to a radio interview she gave yesterday.
Dr Mary Henry (Ind) said the hepatitis C report had dealt with a most appalling therapeutic disaster but they must still be very measured in what they said. She had been extremely concerned to hear a politician giving clinical advice to patients about to have blood transfusions, to think very carefully before they had them.
The Minister for Health should make it clear that patients should be guided by their clinicians, who had their best interests at heart. She felt particularly strongly about the situation in the maternity sense, where in this country deaths of women of child bearing age from haemorrhage had ceased.
If she thought that any woman going for an elective Caesarean section would be guided in what she said to her clinician by a non qualified person giving her advice about the reception of blood, she would be deeply disturbed, Dr Henry added.
She said she had been extraordinarily critical of the Blood Transfusion Service Board. She totally supported the need to ensure that blood supplied was of the highest possible standard. "But I think we must be extraordinarily careful to those lying in hospital beds and being given advice by people who are not expert in this field."
Ms Ann Ormonde (FE) said the latest revelation about an infected donor being asked to give blood in the middle of a judicial inquiry showed that the Minister was not in control. Mr Noonan did not seem to have his finger on the pulse on this one.
Ms Cathy Honan (PD) said that if the present board could not deliver a safe blood supply then it should be replaced. She had been amazed that the effective running of the board was not the No 1 priority of the Minister.
The House leader, Mr Maurice Manning, said they all owed a debt of thanks to Dr Henry for her informed contribution on the hepatitis C controversy. He had been angry on hearing a non medical person offering clinical advice to people who might be in life threatening situations. No politician should indulge in such opportunism. No vote was worth that.