Govt still to approve staffing for new cystic fibrosis centre in Limerick

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland says a new state-of-the-art unit in University Hospital, Limerick, could be made operational within weeks if the Government approved funding for it.

The organisation is calling on the Minister for Health Leo Varadkar to respond to their requests to staff the facility.

The €5.5m project has been ongoing for more than five years, with a substantial amount of the cost raised through fundraising.

CFI is launching its week-long '65 Roses' fundraising campaign today and CEO Phillip Watt says Cystic Fibrosis care in Ireland needs to improve.

He said: "There's only seven in-patient rooms in Beaumont Hospital and we need 20, also we need improved paediatric services in Cork.

"We need the Government to approve the staffing levels in Limerick Hospital which just built a new cystic fibrosis centre.

"The Government still haven't given us the commitment that they are going to provide the staffing for that."