Jimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

I will be taking the Adjournment on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. The Minister acknowledges the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. The negative experience recounted recently by a number of young patients is a matter of much concern. I join Deputy O'Sullivan and others in acknowledging their courage.

The Minister identified the development of cystic fibrosis services as a policy priority in the Estimates process. In 2006 and 2007, additional revenue funding of €6.78 million was provided to the Health Service Executive to develop services. The HSE was asked to place a particular focus on the development of services at the national tertiary referral centre at St. Vincent's Hospital. Some 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date throughout the country, ten of these posts at St. Vincent's Hospital. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally, including a further nine posts at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin.

The Minister accepts the need to improve the infrastructural facilities for persons with cystic fibrosis attending St. Vincent's Hospital. A number of capital projects have recently been completed at the hospital and have helped to improve facilities. These include a new ambulatory care centre with dedicated accommodation — eight suites in total — incorporating single room facilities on an outpatient appointment basis for cystic fibrosis patients in an environment that allows for improved infection control, the refurbishment of St. Camillus's ward, which provides 15 additional respiratory-cystic fibrosis beds, bringing the bed complement to 44, and a new accident and emergency department, including single room accommodation that may be used for the care of cystic fibrosis patients.

It is accepted that these developments do not address the immediate needs of patients. The HSE has been working intensively with the hospital and representatives of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland to progress options for further interim improvements. The Department is advised that the option of developing a modular unit is being examined in this context and the position will be clarified shortly. The HSE advises that it is fast-tracking the redevelopment of a ward adjacent to the main cystic fibrosis treatment area. The project is to commence within the next few weeks and will provide six single rooms. On completion, additional work will begin to provide a further eight single rooms, which will result in a total of 14 single rooms for cystic fibrosis patients by the end of the summer.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built and will include 120 replacement beds in single en suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and include appropriate isolation facilities. Planning permission has been obtained, financial provision has been included in the HSE capital plan and the contract is to be awarded by the end of this year. It will be a condition of the contract that the design-build period is to be not more than 24 months from the date of contract award. The developments I have outlined will significantly enhance the level of service provided for persons with cystic fibrosis.

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