Time to sort out CF log-jam is now

Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI), the national charity, has met with the hospital management, clinicians and the HSE and has urged that a speedy resolution is found to end the dispute that is holding up the development of a new inpatient facility in Cork University Hospital.

A badly-needed new inpatient facility for adults with CF and other respiratory conditions has been planned for CUH for some time. Funding for the project, estimated by the hospital to be around €1.5m, has been raised by a locally-based CF charity Build4Life. The site for the new inpatient rooms, which is in the former renal unit ward in CUH, has been prepared by the hospital at a cost of €250,000. If charitable funding is released, CFI understands that building can commence within a few weeks and can be completed within a few months.

The ring-fencing of beds for CF has been an issue in other hospitals around the country and has been cited as a major issue in the delay. I can report that in our experience, this challenge can be resolved through a written agreement and good operational procedures. The key issue is that patients with CF are assured that sufficient beds will be available when they are needed but at the same time that when beds are not needed for CF, they can be freed up for other very ill patients with respiratory and other conditions.