Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Deenihan for raising this matter, to which I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

I assure the Deputy that the Minister and the HSE are committed to the highest level of patient care in our hospitals and throughout the health service, including in those circumstances where sick persons are enabled to remain in their homes. It is particularly important in the case of a child suffering from a severe illness that there should be no additional cause for concern for the family due to a failure in a system which is outside their control and, indeed, that of the health service.

In the case in question, the child's illness requires that, when a certain status prevails in her condition, a blood sample must be brought to Dublin to be tested in Temple Street Hospital on the same day. The HSE has been reimbursing the family for the cost of the rail transport whenever the service is required. It is understood that this occurs approximately 70 times per year. The family has been informed by Iarnród Éireann that it will no longer be able to provide the conditions for carrying the blood samples by the fast track service from the end of March 2009. The termination of this service has understandably given cause for alarm and concern to the family, particularly because the facility provided through the service had been instrumental in enabling the child to remain in her home in Listowel.

The HSE is fully aware of the withdrawal of the rail service and understands the implications for the patient and her family. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that it is now in communication with the family and is examining the alternative arrangements that can be put in place to transport the samples as required. In light of the fact that the existing service will continue until the end of March, there is some time to make suitable alternative arrangements in order that there will be no gap in services. The HSE is committed to finding a satisfactory solution to this problem and has assured the Minister that it will pursue the matter in the coming weeks.

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