Angry reaction from blood board to call by Harney for its dissolution

THE Blood Transfusion Service Board reacted strongly yesterday to a call from the leader of the Progressive Democrats that it be dissolved.

Ms Mary Harney said the public had lost confidence in the BTSB and called for its replacement. The chief executive of the board, Mr Liam Dunbar, said he found it embarrassing that someone was publicly asking that he be sacked.

"I've had 30 years in public service and I've never been treated like this by anybody," he said. "I moved to the Blood Transfusion Service Board two years ago determined to do what I could to help the service get back on its feet and I have worked literally night and day over that two years.

He said he was determined to continue implementing the strategic plan for the service.

Mr Dunbar was speaking after he and the BTSB chairman, Mr Joe Holloway, met the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, to explain how a woman infected with hepatitis C through a BTSB product had been asked last December if she would donate blood.

Mr Noonan, in what was described as a "tough" meeting, expressed his unhappiness with what had happened and asked that the board review the procedures which had allowed the mistake to occur.

A haematologist and member of the BTSB board, Prof Sean McCann, described Ms Hamey's comments as "outrageous" and said they would damage patient "confidence in the blood supply.

Prof McCann said he regularly ordered blood and blood products for patients suffering from diseases such as leukaemia. "Even a politician could understand that such people would be under extreme pressure. Her comments are extraordinarily unhelpful.

Prof McCann, medical director of the BTSB between April 1995 and November 1996, said he was speaking personally.

Prof McCann said patients had expressed worries to him about the safety of blood and blood products and he had to persuade them that it was safer for them to have a blood transfusion than to let their blood counts drop.

Statements like Ms Harney's tended to magnify patients worries "and as a physician I am worried about that".

The Association of Chief Executive Officers of Health Boards last night issued a statement saying it acknowledged the management of the BTSB was fully committed to ensuring the blood supply was of the highest standard.

The association encouraged donors to continue to donate their blood to ensure an adequate supply for patients and hospitals.