Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment and am delighted to have the opportunity to reply. The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for health services for patients with cystic fibrosis.

The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland commissioned Dr. Ronnie Pollock to review the existing hospital services for persons with cystic fibrosis in the context of accepted international standards. Dr. Pollock's review was officially launched earlier this year. It provides an assessment of need for current and future cystic fibrosis patients and makes a number of recommendations with regard to the numbers and categories of staff appropriate for a modern, multidisciplinary cystic fibrosis service. The report concluded that cystic fibrosis care should be provided in fewer units of more significant size so that viable staffing levels can be maintained and to ensure staff have a sufficient workload to enable them to maintain their skills level.

Following publication of the Pollock report, the Health Service Executive met representatives from the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and agreed to the latter's request to establish a working group to consider the report's recommendations. The group, which includes representatives from the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and the Health Service Executive, as well as relevant clinicians, will review the current configuration and delivery of services to cystic fibrosis patients, in hospitals and in the community, and make recommendations for the improvement and development of services. I understand the group will hold its first meeting in April.

The Health Service Executive, which is designated as the national adult cystic fibrosis centre, is pursuing with St. Vincent's Hospital proposals for improvement to the physical infrastructure to support the highly professional treatment and care services provided there.

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