Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this Bill, which provides for the transfer of responsibility for procuring blood clotting factor products from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to St. James's Hospital. The Bill aims to result in a streamlined procurement process and save much-needed funds in the health budget, but the fact that the use of such clotting products is increasing significantly means that the volume of savings is somewhat diminished. Nevertheless, every opportunity to save the State money without diminishing the quality of service must be taken in the current context.

Safety is paramount when it comes to the procurement of such blood clotting products. The Irish Haemophilia Society estimates there are approximately 613 people with haemophilia as well as another 1,418 people with other bleeding disorders. There are many others with low platelet numbers and this creates difficulty and requires the availability of increased blood clotting products during operations and immediately after giving birth.

The volume of factor concentrate products being used is steadily increasing, up from just over 40 million units in 2009 to 45 million units in 2010 and 48 million units last year, yet the spend in that time has fallen significantly, from €40.7 million in 2009 to €37.6 million in 2011. Hopefully, this downward pressure on spending will continue once responsibility for provision of these products switches to St. James's Hospital and it will continue the commendable work of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service in this regard.

No one needs reminding of the safety concerns that surround the procurement of blood products. It is just 11 years since the Haemophilia Product Selection and Monitoring Advisory Board was established by the then Minister for Health and Children following the Lindsay tribunal of inquiry, which was established to inquire into the infection of haemophiliacs with HIV and hepatitis C by contaminated blood products.

That advisory board, which features representatives of the Irish Haemophilia Society, the National Disease Surveillance Centre, clinical consultants and nurses, the National Virus Reference Laboratory, the Irish Medicines Board, the HSE and the Department of Health, has done tremendous work in ensuring that the safety of blood products is the paramount consideration when it comes to procurement and it is important in any discussion on this issue that the work of that group is recognised and commended. The body procuring blood products must take the advice of the advisory board on the safety and efficacy of all products prior to selecting a successful tender bid. The advisory board also advises on evaluation criteria and the amount of product to be purchased.

One worrying trend in recent months is that many very necessary cost-saving exercises have resulted in increased centralisation of services and perhaps in future more consideration should be given to a wider spread of such services. However, I have every confidence in the staff of St. James's Hospital to conduct this vital service in a safe and efficient manner. The rationale behind the decision to transfer responsibility to St. James's Hospital deserves to be explored. The hospital, as the national haemophilia centre, treats the majority of patients and this proposed transfer has met with approval from the HSE, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, St. James's Hospital and the Irish Haemophilia Society.

The Bill is essentially a common sense measure, saving the State money while the quality of the service provided to the many end users is protected. It is a model of the way our business should be done, as unnecessary spending is steadily stripped out of the system. Already, the procurement of blood clotting products has been significantly streamlined and I look forward to continued savings in coming years from this measure. New thinking and courage to make changes will be increasingly necessary in coming years as Ireland faces the many economic challenges ahead. While money will have to be saved, the quality of vital health services will also have to be protected and this is one very appropriate example of how willingness to change can create a more efficient health service.

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