Spring 2025 Members Hotel Break

We are delighted to share details of the next Members Hotel Break, which will be held in April in the Tower Hotel, Waterford.

Arrival:                  1st April 2025                                Departure: 3rd April 2025 (2 nights Bed & Breakfast)

Twin Rooms:      €140 per night per Twin Room - €280 for two people sharing for 2 nights B&B

Single Rooms:    €125 per night per Single Room - €250 for one person for 2 nights B&B

To book your break, call the Tower Hotel on 051 862300 & quote the Reference No. 149091 to secure your room(s).

Please note: rooms will be held for Anti-D Women members, at the rates above, for booking before Tuesday, 18th March 2025. If you wish to book your break on or after that date, prices will differ.

30th Anniversary Lunch, 6th April 2024

Anti-D Women hosted a lunch for members on 6th April 2024, in Wynn's Hotel Dublin, marking 30 years since news of the Anti-D scandal broke. It was a lovely occasion where women came together to remember all we have been through, how far we have come &, course, to remember the too many friends who are no longer with us. Stories of the fight we fought were shared along with fond memories of happy times & friendships built over the last three decades. Special guests on the day included John Rogers SC, Dr. Liz Kenny, John Dwyer (HSE Insurance Scheme Administrator) & Frances Campbell (representing Ivor Fitzpatrick & Company, following the recent passing of Mr. Fitzpatrick).

    


DATE FOR YOUR DIARY!! 
AGM 2025 will be held in the Ashling Hotel at 12 Midday on Saturday, 1st November.
We look forward to seeing as many members as possible on the day!

Meeting with Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D.

A very productive meeting was held with Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D., on 2nd June 2023. Held remotely via Microsoft Teams, it allowed four board members to outline and discuss with the Minister, along with his staff and Ger Kane, the key issues of concern for our members. The main agenda items were: 

  • Funding / Resources for Anti-D Women
  • Hospital Care / Dismissal from Units
  • Problems Accessing Care /Services Not Understanding HAA Card
  • Delayed Payments to Service Providers
  • Home Nursing / Nursing Home Access & Care / End of Life Care
  • Home Support Issues
  • Negative Women’s Issues 

The Minister was very receptive to all the concerns we expressed. 

  • He confirmed there has been no directive by him to cut funding or reduce care for Anti-D Women.
  • Nevertheless, he acknowledged the issues many women have faced in accessing hospital appointments / being discharged against their will and with service providers no longer understanding the HAA card, or simply refusing to accept it. Ger Kane’s office is working on both of these problems. It is Ger’s understanding that Consultants often feel there is no clinical basis to continue seeing women who have cleared the Hepatitis C virus; hence they think women should be discharged.
  • Minister Donnelly stated that there clearly needs to be a way for women who have been discharged from Liver Units to access care again if they feel it is necessary. A pathway is to be developed whereby ‘patient-initiated reviews’ can be supported, meaning women who feel they need to be seen by their Unit will be facilitated.
  • With regard to the lack of understanding around HAA cards and entitlements, all Units will be contacted to ensure any gaps in understanding are filled and staff educated properly. Many women have expressed their concern and frustration that the HAA card is not being accepted by service providers. Minister Donnelly and Ger Kane noted that there has been an issue with HSE systems recognising HAA card numbers and this being a barrier to care for women. They agreed to look at reissuing HAA cards with system compatible numbers. Women will be contacted when the time comes; in the meantime, please continue to use your HAA card as you always have. 
  • It was confirmed at the meeting that nursing home care, when needed for HAA card holders, is paid directly by the HSE; you do not need to avail of the Fair Deal Scheme.
  • With regard to home support, work is underway on standardising rates for home support workers and we will be contacted when new rates are finalised. However, both the Minister and Ger Kane agreed there is an ongoing problem in finding care workers and that is not an easily rectifiable problem.
  • Regarding the ‘Negative Group”, Minister Donnelly queried whether there may be any recent scientific developments which could support their case. We will liaise directly with this group to seek such information.

Overall, the Minister was not only receptive to our concerns, he gave firm direction to the HSE on actionable issues and committed to supporting Anti-D Women via Ger Kane and the National Hepatitis C Office of the HSE. It was a very positive outcome.

 

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