Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad that the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is responding to this issue because I do not think there is anyone better acquainted with the various obstacles and snags that affect health services. She has been very helpful at various stages in addressing the anomalies and issues that arise in dealing with this matter. There is an undue delay in opening the 20 bed adult respiratory ward 5B which includes ten designated single inpatient rooms for cystic fibrosis patients. Cork University Hospital was not in a position financially to provide a larger unit to replace the original ward 3A where for several years doctors and staff had been struggling to accommodate cystic fibrosis patients in 11 beds. Fortunately, Mr. Joe Browne and his fundraising group in County Kerry, Build4Life, stepped in to fund the unit. All members of the group were either adults with cystic fibrosis or parents of children with the illness which gave them first-hand experience of the inadequacies of the facilities at Cork University Hospital. Through its endeavours, the group raised more than €2.3 million as a catalyst to get the project off the ground. Following the initial discussions on the number of beds to be designated for cystic fibrosis patients, the Minister of State intervened to find a satisfactory solution. However, there has been a delay of four or five months since the unit was completed. It needs to be opened at the earliest opportunity because these patients need to be treated in isolation, given that exposure to infection can be fatal for them. It is shameful that the unit continues to lie idle. I am sure the Minister of State is willing to make one more strong endeavour to progress the matter. I also note that her senior colleague, the Minister for Health, has stepped in with national funding.

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