Charity succeeds where state fails

TEN years ago I lost my daughter to cystic fibrosis (CF).

She had been very healthy prior to a routine clinic visit to a Dublin hospital. Unfortunately on that day she contracted a fatal infection through cross-infection. She died six months later.

Listening to the outpouring of grief, anger and frustration over the past week in relation to the disgraceful lack of facilities for people with cystic fibrosis was very upsetting to me and I am sure to all affected by this disease.

Fifteen years ago I was told the new CF unit would be built at St Vincent’s hospital in Dublin and here we are with nothing after all that time.

On October 8 you reported that Joe Browne, through the build4life charity, has started work on a new CF clinic in Cork University Hospital (CUH), with protected beds. I know from experience that the CF adults attending CUH who will be treated without the fear of cross-infection will have many years added to their lives.

This is the most positive news I have heard in a long time and I’m sure it will be met with great anticipation in my native Cork.

To be able to extend the lives of CF sufferers is a great act of humanity. The vision and foresight of build4life to do what the Government has continually failed to do in St Vincent’s deserves great credit.

Ann Shanahan

Mount Merrion

Dublin 14