Acrimony between the Dublin and Cork centres of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) are among a number of "important shortcomings" identified by an industrial relations specialist in a review of the organisation's structures earlier this year.
The shortcomings are detailed in a report by Mr Phil Flynn, who was requested by the board of the IBTS to conduct the review. The report has not yet been published.
The report has recommended the implementation of "a comprehensive programme of organisation development and change management".
Mr Flynn's recommendations, which have been seen by The Irish Times, call for the establishment of a subcommittee of the board of the IBTS to agree specific steps and time-frames required to address "the management performance, organisation, and human resources issues identified" in his report.
Mr Flynn recommended that the present director of the Cork centre of the IBTS, Dr Joan Power, "should be involved in all relevant medical, scientific and clinical committees within the IBTS and actively involved in the future development of the Cork centre's clinical role in the IBTS".
Supporters of the Cork centre have feared its downgrading following an announcement by the IBTS that it planned to centralise blood-testing in Dublin. The row over centralised testing has been referred to a panel of experts who have yet to be named.
The report found that a separate row over who the Cork chief technical officer should report to, which resulted in a threat of strike action and a Labour Relations Commission hearing earlier this year, should be deferred until the panel of experts had made their findings known.
Mr Flynn's report also says plans for a new building to house the Cork centre should be "expedited with urgency".
The report was also critical of the lack of adequate financial control in the service, and pointed out that the development of its headquarters in Dublin has gone seriously over budget. "Aspects of our analysis were positive; other aspects of our analysis identified important shortcomings that must be addressed," Mr Flynn said.
On positive aspects, he said: "This review has satisfied us that there is an overriding desire and commitment in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to provide the highest quality service, supply and safety to the Irish public. Much has been accomplished to place the service on a stable footing after a long period of turbulence and disquiet. Personnel in the organisation have worked strenuously to address past difficulties and regain public trust; we are greatly impressed with their dedication."
His recommendations have been accepted by the board of the IBTS.