Charity sceptical about October opening date for CF unit

A charity that raised €2.3m to build a ward designed to make hospital stays less life-threatening for cystic fibrosis patients has been told it is unlikely to open before October, eight months behind schedule.

The delay has led Joe Browne, the founder of the Build4Life charity, to call for a probe into the causes of the hold-up, including the personnel responsible.

“I want an investigation once the ward is open,” said Mr Browne. “The ward was built from public funds and our donors deserve to know why the project they funded has taken so long to get off the ground.

“This delay is an abuse of their goodwill and a nightmare for families dealing with CF.”

Earlier this month, Darren Hickey, the scheduled care manager for the South/SouthWest Hospital Group, told the Build4Life charity while he is “also frustrated in the delay” hospital management has given “a provisional opening date of October if not sooner depending on the recruitment”.

The hospital has blamed difficulties recruiting staff on the failure to open the 20-bed respiratory ward.

The situation would be reviewed again in the first week of September by the hospital management team, Mr Hickey said.

However, Mr Browne said he “would believe it when I see it”.

He added: “We have been let down so many times, we don’t know what to believe anymore.”

He said Build4Life also had concerns around warranties expiring on equipment the charity has paid for, as happened previously in relation to a teleconferencing system.

The charity paid around €35,000 for the system but it had not been made operational for over a year and the warranty expired. Build4Life paid for an extended warranty.

When asked by the Irish Examiner if there was a danger of warranties expiring in relation to equipment for the new ward, the HSE said service contracts were in place as part of the procurement process.

Build4Life also has concerns in relation to design elements of a new CF day unit for children.

While Health Minister Leo Varadkar directed earlier this year that their concerns be taken on board, Mr Browne said that the revised design did not include a nurses’ station in the reception area, as requested by the charity.

Another concern is that planning approval on the adult outpatient CF unit — which Build4Life donated €450,000 towards — is due to expire towards the end of this year. Asked what action the HSE Estates Department has taken to ensure the unit can continue to function, the HSE said it was “agreed that HSE Estates could liaise with City Council to apply for an extension”.