Minister of State Tony Killeen has welcomed the Minister for Health and Children’s announcement of a EUR17m investment programme to provide a new purpose-built Munster Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at Cork University Hospital.The Clare T.D. noted that the new centre will ensure delivery of a safe, efficient and cost effective blood transfusion service for patients.
He said, “The existing Cork Centre has made an enormous contribution to blood transfusion services and has benefited hundreds of Clare people over many years. This investment, of which EUR5m will be provided by the IBTS from its own resources, will secure its future as a key part of a safe, high quality blood transfusion service’. “The present facilities in Cork are in need of replacement as the facility is reaching the end of its design life. With the ever-present threat of infection or contamination of the national blood supply, it is imperative that the IBTS centres operate to the highest international standards of quality and safety,” added Minister Killeen.
He stated that the new centre will provide all of the services currently available in Cork, other than laboratory testing which can now be provided safely and cost effectively for the whole country at the National Blood Centre, Dublin. “The IBTS has concluded that this will not compromise the blood supply,” concluded the Minister.
