A blood transfusion centre to cater for the Munster region is to be built at Cork University Hospital following an announcement today by Minister for Health Mary Harney.
The €17 million investment will replace the Munster Regional Transfusion Centre at St. Finbarr’s Hospital in Cork which is reaching the end of its design life.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service has been seeking exchequer funding for the redevelopment of the Cork Centre since 1997.
The estimated cost of the project is €17m, of which €5m will be provided by the transfusion service. Up to €12m will be provided by the Department of Health. These funds will come from existing capital funding available to the Department and, according to the Department of Health, there will be no additional running costs for the Exchequer. It will be at least three years before the centre is completed.
The Board of the IBTS today welcomed the announcement saying the decision recognises the important role played by the Cork centre in the provision of the national transfusion service.
“The redevelopment of the Cork Centre has been a top priority for the IBTS Board for many years and we have worked diligently with the Minister and the Department of Health and Children in the groundwork which led to this funding and development decision” said the Chairperson, Maura McGrath.
She continued, "We are delighted that the Government's ongoing commitment to quality, safety and excellence in patient care is reflected in this decision to redevelop the Cork Centre."
Some 28.5 per cent of all donations collected nationally come from the Munster region. Of the estimated 152,000 donations collected nationwide in 2008, approximately 43,353 will come from the Munster region. The IBTS needs to collect 3,000 donations a week every week.
