IPads donated to CF unit two years ago never used

IPads purchased by a charity over two years ago for cystic fibrosis patients at Cork University Hospital have never been used because the hospital is still assessing how to clean them.

The four iPads were donated by CF charity Build4Life prior to the opening of an adult CF outpatient unit at CUH in Jun 2011.

In a statement, the hospital said it was “assessing how best to clean these devices to ensure they are non-infective so they can be safely shared by all patients”.

Joe Browne, founder of Build4Life, said the charity had paid for two of the iPads, which he described as “top of the range” while the grandparent of a child with CF had donated the other two, which were brand new. Mr Browne said his understanding was that the clinic had no wi-fi and the iPads could not be used.

He said the devices had been purchased at the behest of the hospital as part of a “wishlist” of what they would like when fitting out the new CF unit.

He said they had deliberately chosen iPads instead of laptops because they came without a keyboard which could be a source of infection. The iPads were to include a questionnaire which patients would fill out upon arriving at the clinic in relation to their state of health. This would be immediately emailed to their medical team who would then be up-to-speed when attending the patient.

Mr Browne said Build4Life was disappointed too that a teleconferencing system they funded for the outpatient unit at a cost of circa €35,000 had not been made operational for over a year after the clinic opening and the warranty had expired. Build4Life paid for an extended warranty for the equipment.

The teleconference facility is now fully operational.

Currently, the CF out-patient unit is operating out a prefabricated building which has planning approval up to the end of 2015.

Build4Life donated some €450,000 towards developing the unit. Mr Browne said they are concerned for the future of the unit given that planning permission expires in two years.

The hospital said the matter would be addressed by the HSE Estates Department. Build4Life said the hospital had done nothing other than obtain a two-year extension to a demolition order.

Build4Life is currently embroiled in a row with management at CUH over bed allocation. The charity raised €2.3m to fund a 20-bed respiratory ward on the understanding at least eight beds would be ring- fenced for CF patients.

While the hospital initially said 10 single rooms for CF patients would be part of the development, it is now saying they will be given “priority access”.

An early christmas present was handed over to the CUH kids CF unit by B4L this week, it will buy some much needed... http://t.co/xozcDjV9lk

— Build4Life4Kids/CF (@Build4Life4Kids) December 12, 2013