Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

More than 50% of adults with cystic fibrosis in the State attend St. Vincent's University Hospital for their treatment due to the expertise established there. The hospital is also designated as the national referral centre for all other hospitals providing treatment for people with cystic fibrosis.

St. Vincent's hospital is undergoing a process of complete redevelopment. The new ambulatory day care centre opened in 2006 provides dedicated ambulatory care facilities for people with cystic fibrosis. A new ward, St. Christopher's, comprising eight single en-suite rooms was opened at the hospital in August 2008 – these rooms are occupied only by people with cystic fibrosis.

I am advised by the hospital that the patient in question was admitted under the cystic fibrosis team and moved to St. Christopher's as soon as a room became available. I have been informed by the HSE that cleaning is carried out twice a day on the ward to which the patient was initially admitted and also a deep clean is carried out once a week.

The next stage in the development of St. Vincent's hospital will involve the construction of a new ward block to replace existing accommodation. It is estimated that the construction, equipping and commissioning will take approximately 18 months and the new facility is to be operational as soon as possible in 2011. All of the rooms will be single and en-suite, significantly enhancing the hospital's capacity to provide appropriate isolation facilities for patients.

Over the past number of years, I have prioritised the development of services for people with cystic fibrosis with a total revenue investment of €6.78 million and complementary capital investment. The development and enhancement of specialist teams in a number of other hospitals, in particular Beaumont Hospital, Cork University Hospital, University College Hospital, Galway, Limerick Regional Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital, means that some people with cystic fibrosis currently attending St. Vincent's may choose to attend another centre where this is closer to home and meets their needs. This should, in time, balance demand for accommodation for people with cystic fibrosis across a number of hospitals.

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