Efforts to find accord between CUH and cystic fibrosis charity to continue

Efforts to broker an agreement that would end a row between a Cork hospital and a cystic fibrosis (CF) charity over the ring-fencing of beds are to continue next week after talks last night ended without a breakthrough.

However, it’s understood parties to the talks are hopeful of a compromise being reached. The row between CF charity Build4Life and Cork University Hospital (CUH) erupted when the hospital refused to ring-fence beds for CF patients in a ward the charity is funding.

Build4Life raised €2.3m to fund the new adult respiratory unit on the understanding that up to 10 beds would be ring-fenced. The hospital is now offering “priority access” which Build4Life is not prepared to accept. The row has delayed the development which should have been completed by now.

It has also emerged that there are concerns about staffing in relation to care of CF patients. The issue was raised at a meeting at CUH last week by Professor Charles Gallagher, who is the national clinic lead for CF.

Prof Gallagher was invited to attend to provide guidance on developing an action plan to get the project back on track. According to the minutes of the meeting, seen by the Irish Examiner, Prof Gallagher highlighted “significant deficits” in the CF multidisciplinary team staff numbers.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) did not respond to an Irish Examiner query asking it to identify the deficits in terms of the precise roles involved. However, consultant respiratory physician at CUH Dr Barry Plant told the meeting that a “a document is currently in development to address this topic through the newly established Medical Directorate with a planned submission to the executive management board of CUH shortly”.

According to the minutes, this was supported by CUH general manager Tony McNamara and HSE regional director Gerry O’Dwyer. The minutes of the meeting also said the CUH project will deliver “10 designated single in-patient rooms for adults with CF” but these beds could be used for other patients in the event they were not needed by other CF patients. The meeting also heard that there will be more than 10 CF in-patients at times and they will be accommodated in single inpatient rooms.