Cystic fibrosis sufferers ‘at risk from hospital bugs’

CYSTIC fibrosis sufferers could die if the State fails to protect them from potentially fatal hospital bugs, a campaign group warned yesterday.

An independent review of St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, the National Adult Cystic Fibrosis Referral Centre, found patients are at significant risk of catching superbugs, such as MRSA.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) this week allocated €300,000 to address some of the more critical issues at the hospital that treats around 60% of adult sufferers.

“While we are grateful for the money, it is not going to go very far, because we know what has to be done,” said Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) chief executive Godfrey Fletcher.

The association holds its national conference in Cavan this weekend.

“We have an actual disaster looming. Facilities at the hospital must be upgraded so that CF sufferers can be treated in single rooms with their own, en suite bathroom so that cross-infection can be controlled,” he said.

Mr Fletcher said an estimated €8 million would have to be invested at the hospital.

Dr Ronnie Pollock, who conducted the review for CFAI, warned an outbreak of a virulent organism at St Vincent’s could spark litigation similar to the hepatitis C infection scandal.

Dr Pollock, who visited 10 of the 13 hospitals in the State caring for CF patients, found staffing levels were dangerously inadequate.

Ireland has the highest incidence of cystic fibrosis in the world. There are more than 1,100 such patients in the State.

A working group established by the HSE to examine the Pollock report held its first meeting last week. The group is expected to come up with a plan by June.

A €30 million would be needed for the implementation of a national CF service delivered through nine specialist centres. “As part of the overall healthcare budget of €11.5 million for 2005, that is not a huge amount,” said Mr Fletcher.