Blood bank drops €3m safety project

THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has ditched plans to upgrade a computer system used to ensure the safety of blood products after spending more than €700,000 on the project.

The Progesa computer system was introduced in the Dublin and Cork blood banks in 2003, following a series of blood contamination scandals in the State.

The IBTS had set aside about €3.13 million for the software upgrade and to date about €720,000 has been spent on software, professional fees and staff costs.