Sir, As a practising gynaecologist, I am greatly concerned at the increasing public loss of confidence in the blood units and blood products supplied by the Blood Transfusion Service Board. As a result of statements made by Ms, Mary Harney and other public figures, some patients are now requesting autologous transfusion (the collecting of two, units of their own blood before surgery or delivery, for re transfusion to them if needed).
It should be realised that this is in many ways a psychological reassurance. In the event of a blood transfusion being really lifesaving as opposed to correcting post operative anaemia, generally much more than a two unit transfusion is required. As it is not usual or possible to harvest more than two units, the balance still has to be made up by transfusion of units from other donors.
In addition, there are an additional range of hazards in the practice of autologous transfusion which must be taken into account in the assessment of its value. We must realise that in spite of recent problems, we still have an excellent transfusion service which very rarely presents serious risk to our patients. Let's not throw out the baby with the bath water. Yours, etc., Castlebar, Co Mayo.