Cystic fibrosis unit gets go-ahead

BUILDING will start this year on an isolation unit at the main treatment centre for adult cystic fibrosis sufferers in Dublin, the Health Service Executive announced yesterday.

Patients are concerned about being admitted to St Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin, the national CF referral centre for adults, via its accident and emergency department because of the contamination risk.

Last week a young man suffering from the disease, pleaded for a better quality of life than the one experienced by his older sister. Joseph Lawlor, 20, from Castlebridge, Co Wexford, said his sister Tracie, 24, who died last November, was terrified of going into St Vincent’s because of the risk.

He and other people with CF, Ireland’s most common life-threatening inherited disease, want St Vincent’s Hospital to provide single en-suite units to minimise the risk of cross-infection.

Tracie was one of 30 people with cystic fibrosis who died last year.

The HSE’s hospital network manager Louise McMahon said construction would begin this year on a new facility at the hospital to include single en-suite units for patients to reduce the co-infection risk.

The development of the 120-bed unit for immuno-compromised patients will take about two years to build and a number of months before it is fully staffed and equipped.

Ms McMahon said in the interim the HSE had made improvements for cystic fibrosis patients who are admitted to the hospital. Last year a ward was refurbished and re-designed to provide 15 extra respiratory beds, including CF beds. Other “reconfiguration” of existing facilities included the freeing up of space in a second ward within six months. The ward is adjacent to the main treatment area for CF patients.

If possible, additional single room accommodation would be developed, and options were being examined as a matter of urgency.

Asked if the HSE would consider block booking beds in a private hospital, especially for CF patients, Ms McMahon said they would not rule out any solution that would improve their situation.

Fundraising manager of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland Martin Cahill said they were delighted that building work on the new unit would begin this year.

About 1,200 people in Ireland are living with CF, that affects the glands. It causes respiratory and digestive problems, diabetes and other complications.

National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Week takes place from Monday, January 28, until Monday, February 4, next and the CFAI is urging the public to help the association sell CF awareness dolls and trolley coins for €2.

* Contact the CFAI helpline at 1890 311 211.