Minister to meet Hep C groups over spending

MINISTER FOR Health James Reilly has said the Health Service Executive and support groups for people infected with hepatitis C were capable of resolving issues regarding State funding but that taxpayers’ money had to be accounted for.

Speaking yesterday the Minister said he knew there were concerns regarding how money provided to the organisations had been accounted for and how it had been used. He added he would invite the organisations to discuss the situation regarding funding.

“We have to underscore the issue of probity . . . that monies that are given to voluntary and other organisations in relation to functions that they carry out are used to carry out those functions and not anything else.”

Two groups, Transfusion Positive and Positive Action, are funded by the executive and receive some €860,000 between them annually. However, the executive recently restricted funding to both organisations. It has requested information on their accounts for 2010 and 2011.

The Irish Times reported yesterday, based on documents provided by the HSE on foot of a Freedom of Information request, that the groups spent more than €250,000 between them on weekends away, golf trips, pool table hire and conferences in 2010.

But Margaret O’Connor, a hepatitis C sufferer and member of Positive Action, said she felt the suffering experienced by hepatitis C victims and their families has not been reflected in the debate.

“You may look perfect but you are suffering in so many ways and you have a hangman’s noose hanging over your head, wondering when will I die?”

She said that, as the group got older, they were experiencing more health problems.

“We’re not able to be proper grandmothers and give our daughters and sons the support we’d like to give as grandparents.”

She said she had been on one weekend away organised by the group, which included talks by nutritionists and a psychologist, but said she had paid money towards that trip.

Members of the group are asked to make contributions towards trips and activities organised by Positive Action. However, all expenses quoted in yesterday’s Irish Times took this into account and only quoted the net cost as provided by the group to the HSE.

About 1,000 women in Ireland were infected by hepatitis C from contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin produced by the then Blood Transfusion Service Board between 1977 and 1991. A total of 67 members of Positive Action who received the contaminated blood products have died.

The government set up a tribunal to inquire into the hepatitis C scandal and another to award compensation to those affected.