Charity holds funds after CUH refuses to ringfence beds for CF patients

A charity that raised millions for a new ward at Cork University Hospital (CUH) has refused to hand over the money after management reneged on a commitment to ringfence beds for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.

Build4Life raised €3.5m for CF services at CUH — the largest philanthropic donation in the hospital’s history. Under the agreement, Build4Life agreed to pay the entire €2.3m cost of refurbishing a 20-bed ward (ward 5B) at CUH for respiratory patients in the belief that eight of the beds would be ringfenced for CF patients.

However, despite the massive financial commitment and years of fundraising, the hospital is refusing to sign a contract to ringfence CF beds.