Sir, – I would like to thank Priscilla Lynch for highlighting the flaws in the system that treats haemochromatosis sufferers (“Anger at axing of clinic plan for patients with blood condition”, HealthPlus, May 8th).
Myself and members of my family have been attending various clinics and hospitals for the treatment of haemochromatosis for many years and have been frustrated by the wasteful situation we find ourselves in.
Firstly, I attended the Mater Private for 16 weeks. I was so shocked by the massive cost that VHI was paying on my behalf that I stopped attending. How can a healthcare system possibly run efficiently if a health insurer agrees to pay €360 (as it was then) for me to give a pint of blood to keep my iron levels in check? Secondly, I was told that not only was my treatment (consisting solely of a pint of blood being drained, just like a donation) costing a fortune, but that it then cost the State to ship my healthy blood to Scotland as we have no suitable incinerator in Ireland.
Finally, I discovered that Dr Brigid Gallagher was piloting a programme in Stillorgan Blood Clinic, whereby I could donate blood, at no cost, rather than have it discarded.
My consultant was less than enthusiastic about referring me, but I got signed up and have been attending ever since. It amazes me that Dr Gallagher has not received total support for this programme, nor has she had much success in rolling it out across the country as she had hoped.
I fail to understand how our health system can justify throwing away healthy blood when there are so many sick people in need of donations. Surely Dr Gallagher’s programme is a win-win situation for the haemochromatosis sufferer, the patient in need of blood and the taxpayer?– Yours, etc,