Dáil debates

Tuesday, 31 March 2009

Priority Questions

Cystic Fibrosis Services.

3:00 pm

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason only eight of the additional 14 fast-tracked cystic fibrosis beds promised to be put in place by the end of summer 2008 have been delivered; the further reason that the remaining beds have not been delivered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13411/09]

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Since 2006, some 19 additional staff have been recruited in St. Vincent's Hospital to work with cystic fibrosis patients. The physical infrastructure has also been enhanced through the refurbishment last year of accommodation to provide eight single en suite rooms for the exclusive use of people with cystic fibrosis.

It had been intended to free up a further six beds at the hospital for the use of cystic fibrosis patients. This has not yet happened due to serious infection control concerns in the care of the elderly unit in the hospital which required immediate essential refurbishment work. In order to do this, patients from the care of the elderly unit had to be moved to the area which had been planned for the additional six beds. This work has been completed and the elderly unit has reopened.

In order to provide six additional single en suite rooms for cystic fibrosis patients, the current configuration of the ward will have to be changed from five three-bedded rooms and one six-bedded room to six single rooms. The current complement of 21 beds would be reduced to six and the hospital would therefore lose 15 beds which are available to it. The additional 15 beds are necessary at the moment to accommodate patients requiring admission from the emergency department.

Phase 2 of the development at St. Vincent's is being designed to provide a new clinical building which will include 120 replacement beds. The new facility will include appropriate isolation facilities and accommodation for cystic fibrosis patients. Design work and preparation of tender documents is continuing in respect of the development.

A number of other significant capital developments are being progressed for cystic fibrosis patients throughout the country, including in Beaumont Hospital. An additional 48 staff, including consultant, nursing and allied health professionals, have been appointed across the hospital system in recent years to enhance the services provided to cystic fibrosis patients. I intend to continue these improvements, including the development of outreach services to facilitate the treatment of patients outside the hospital setting where appropriate.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for her response. There is one chink of light for the many people in this country who suffer with cystic fibrosis, the people who love them and those who try to treat them, and this is that the Minister has the power to change the HSE's suggestions and plans.

Since this issue came to the airwaves last year, two of the brave young women who were on "Liveline" with Joe Duffy have passed away. We know this unit was costed at €40 million. We know from the Minister's own testimony at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children that building costs have decreased by 25% so we are now looking at a cost of a mere €30 million. We know that in the current climate builders, if pushed and pressed, will take deferred payment to keep their employees at work. I must put it to the Minister that failure to address this issue and progress this development will impact on all other facilities for cystic fibrosis in the country.

We can defer payments but these young Irish citizens die ten years sooner than their cousins 40 miles up the road. They cannot defer their demise if this facility is not built for them. I plead with the Minister to use her good offices to examine what the HSE has planned and where the cutbacks are planned and make this an absolute priority. Some of the people who would be outspoken about this issue this week and next week may not be with us next year if she does not make that decision.

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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It is a priority but, to be fair to the HSE, if it does not have the money it cannot do it. Virtually all of the HSE's capital plan is contractual. Yesterday, I stated that I know the hospital has an alternative proposal on how this could be funded in the immediate period and we need to explore options in an innovative and imaginative way to bring this facility into place as quickly as possible. I agree it is important and certainly it is a priority for me and for the Government to make this happen.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Given how long it takes for matters to be explored, will the Minister explore in a very urgent fashion the possibility of putting in place a pre-modular unit to have at least some beds and isolation facilities available for these very needy young people? This could be done in a matter of weeks while an alternative way to provide the 120-bedded unit is being explored.

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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That was explored last summer and the hospital's very strong preference, because of space issues, was to do it all together. We committed to doing this, which is why we reorganised within the hospital. Certainly, all options will be explored. As the Deputy may be aware, the care of the elderly facility at St. Vincent's leaves much to be desired. The facilities there for very old stroke victim patients are not what people are entitled to expect. If we can provide the 120-bedded facility in an innovative way with the hospital's support, and this is a voluntary hospital which is not owned by the State, then we should be prepared to do so. I am exploring this in the context of next Tuesday's budget.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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The Minister promised 30 beds for cystic fibrosis patients.

Photo of James ReillyJames Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The children and young adults in this country suffering from cystic fibrosis require these facilities in the most urgent possible sense. Unless a commitment is given that can be kept to build the 120-bedded unit, then another facility should be provided which can meet their needs.

The problems in St. Vincent's do not stop with the elderly. A haematology unit there has stopped admitting people who have neutropenia, a low white cell count, which is a complication of illness, because of two episodes of vancomysen resistant e.coli. The inpatient unit has one toilet so the problem goes deeper.

I am pleading on behalf of children and young adults with cystic fibrosis. We have lost some already and we will lose more. As a society, we cannot stand over the fact that people here in the so-called Celtic tiger economy die ten years younger than their cousins in Northern Ireland.

Photo of Mary HarneyMary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The matter of life expectancy is not confirmed by the registry. However, this is not the issue. The issue is having appropriate facilities for these patients and I am committed to making this happen.