Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This is a growing medical issue for Irish citizens across this island. We must grow our medical intelligence to assist doctors to get the best research and care to be passed on to these patients.

I reiterate the few proposals I would like the Minister of State to bring back to the Department. I would like it to focus on the cohort of people who are genetically predisposed to this disease, particularly in direct provision centres, to make sure they have screening for sickle cell disease. Like cystic fibrosis, it takes two carriers to have a child with sickle cell disease. Children are been born in Ireland and their parents do not know that they have sickle cell disease. I called for the setting up of a database and registry to examine the geographic spread and to consider the possibility of having satellite care clinics. If one is based in Galway or Cork, travelling to St. James’s Hospital or CHI Crumlin would involve a major financial cost and often those people do not have those financial resources. Research in the area and an awareness campaign are needed, particularly for people who are genetically predisposed to the condition.