Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

Ireland has the highest rate of cystic fibrosis in the world and one of the lowest life expectancy rates for cystic fibrosis patients. While there is no official data on life expectancy of cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland, it is clear that we lag behind many other developed countries in life expectancy for cystic fibrosis patients.

In an effort to change this, family and friends of cystic fibrosis patients in Cork and Kerry founded a group called Build4Life. The aim of Build4Life is to raise awareness of cystic fibrosis in the region and to raise over €1 million for a dedicated adult cystic fibrosis treatment unit at Cork University Hospital. I am pleased to say that after an enormous amount of voluntary effort, the Build4Life campaign has already raised over €1.3 million.

A statement of need for the provision of these dedicated cystic facilities has been passed by the executive management board at Cork University Hospital, and it is now up to the Health Service Executive to progress the project. It is expected there will be 150 adult cystic fibrosis patients in Cork and Kerry alone by the end of next year. I understand the statement of need provides for an adult day centre for adult cystic fibrosis patients and 11 isolated units for patients.

I emphasise that the multidisciplinary medical team is already in place for the treatment of adult cystic fibrosis patients at Cork University Hospital. Dr. Barry Plant, a respiratory consultant with particular focus on cystic fibrosis, is driving the initiative within the hospital for the provision of dedicated facilities for cystic fibrosis patients. The team also comprises a paediatric respiratory consultant, adult and paediatric nurses, physiotherapists and dieticians. In addition, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland is funding a registrar post at Cork University Hospital this year and, hopefully, next year as well. Essentially, the multidisciplinary team is already in place and the patients are being treated, but not in a suitable and appropriate environment.

The Build4Life campaign is calling on the HSE to identify an area within the hospital campus which would be suitable for the provision of these dedicated cystic fibrosis facilities. This is absolutely essential because cystic fibrosis patients are at serious risk of cross-infection on an ongoing basis, which results in many visits to hospital. At present, cystic fibrosis patients must be admitted to hospital through the accident and emergency department, which leaves the patients exposed to infections which can be life threatening, given their condition. One in 19 people in Ireland carries the cystic fibrosis gene. If two persons with the gene have a child, that child has a one-in-four chance of having cystic fibrosis. There are many families who have more than one child with cystic fibrosis. I believe that the HSE has an obligation to respond to the extraordinary voluntary initiative taken by everyone associated in the Build4Life campaign in Cork and Kerry, and I ask the HSE as a matter of priority to identify an area within Cork University Hospital where these facilities can be provided.

The Pollock report of 2005 demonstrated clearly that the majority of adults with cystic fibrosis in Ireland are being treated in facilities that are dangerous. The report was extremely critical of the lack of segregation and isolation facilities throughout the country. The report recommended the development of a small number of dedicated cystic fibrosis centres around the country.

Life expectancy for cystic fibrosis patients in other European countries and in the United States is in the 40s and 50s, with many patients living with cystic fibrosis and leading healthy and productive lives well into their 60s. As the country with the highest incidence of cystic fibrosis in the world, we should become the world leaders in services and facilities for cystic fibrosis patients, and I hope that the Minister will have a positive response on the development of such facilities at Cork University Hospital.

See this speech in context