Cystic fibrosis - Lost project to cost lives

A charity dedicated to the needs of cystic fibrosis patients that raised millions for a new ward at Cork University Hospital has withdrawn its support after HSE management refused to honour an agreement that beds would be set aside for CF patients.

Build4Life, founded by Kerryman Joe Browne whose son has the condition, raised €3.5m for CF services at CUH — the largest philanthropic donation in the hospital’s history. Under the agreement, Build4Life agreed to pay the cost of refurbishing a 20-bed ward at CUH for respiratory patients on the understanding that eight of the beds would be ring-fenced for CF patients.

Now the hospital has reneged on that deal and the whole project is halted. Perhaps the HSE — and specifically CUH management — should recognise while they argue, people with this condition are dying.