Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 97: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that the Health Service Executive and all maternity hospitals in the State co-operate with parents who request the collection of cord blood upon the birth of a child for the purpose of storage; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an association (details supplied) has ruled that cord blood banking should be discussed with all prospective parents; the reason the HSE and hospital management are refusing to co-operate with a company to carry out the procurement of cord blood here; if her attention has further been drawn to the potential of stem cell treatment derived from cord blood in the health service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45670/08]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 195: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will take the necessary steps to ensure that the Health Service Executive, all maternity hospitals and hospitals with maternity units in the State co-operate with parents who request the collection of cord blood upon the birth of a child for the purpose of storage; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the American Medical Association has ruled that cord blood banking should be discussed with all prospective parents; the reason the HSE and hospital managements are refusing to co-operate with a company (details supplied), the only company licensed by the Irish Medicines Board to carry out the procurement of cord blood here; if her attention has further been drawn to the potential of stem cell treatment derived from cord blood in the health service here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45729/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 195 together.

I am aware that research on the range of conditions which may be treated by stem cells is gathering pace and offers promise for the future. I am also aware that the association referred to in the Deputy's question recognises cord blood as useful for some therapeutic purposes. However, the Deputy may wish to note that the association in question does not recommend private banking of cord blood for low-risk families.

Access for the Irish population to cord blood is principally mediated through a network of national and international stem cell banks and registries which is facilitated by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. These international banks, to which the Irish population have access, include stem cells sourced from cord blood. In addition, "directed" harvesting of cord blood for medically indicated and predetermined use is facilitated in HSE hospitals in collaboration with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service is licensed for this purpose by the relevant competent authority, the Irish Medicines Board, and procurement of stem cells taken on their behalf at HSE operated or funded hospitals is indemnified by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme.

"Undirected" harvesting of cord blood stem cells is harvesting of cord blood stem cells at the time of birth for potential use in the future which is undetermined at the time of harvesting, including potential future applications not currently established. There is no public service for banking in this scenario. However, there is one private company operating in the Irish market which is authorised to offer this service to members of the public. While this company is licensed under appropriate legislation by the Irish Medicines Board for the procurement of stem cells, they may not themselves always undertake the actual procedure of harvesting the cord blood at the time of birth. Instead they have approached staff employed at hospitals operated or funded by the HSE to enter into a private contract with the commercial company to undertake harvesting on behalf of the company. The State Claims Agency, which provides an indemnity under the Clinical Indemnity Scheme to cover clinical risks in hospitals operated or funded by the HSE, considers that undirected harvesting does not come within the scope of the statutory definition of "professional medical services" as set out in the Order establishing the scheme. Their statement on the matter is publicly available.

At this point, the HSE has not issued a direction to hospitals or staff with regard to the undertaking of undirected harvesting of cord blood under contract with private companies. However, in response to enquiries, the position of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme has been indicated to hospital or staff.

The HSE is currently examining the issues surrounding the undirected harvesting of cord blood at hospitals operated or funded by the HSE to facilitate processing and banking by private companies under contract with patients. It will be corresponding with hospitals once this examination is complete. At the heart of this examination is the need for the HSE to ensure that evidence-based, safe, effective and high quality care is provided to patients and their families. However, it raises broader questions around the entry by staff employed at hospitals operated or funded by the HSE into private contracts with commercial companies to provide products or services not provided by the HSE itself.