Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is satisfactory that a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis, in need of medical care due to their condition, was admitted to St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, on 23 June 2009 and placed in a small room with five other patients all suffering chronic illness; if her attention has been drawn to the inadequate conditions around the bed of the patient; her further views on whether it is appropriate that a cystic fibrosis patient be so treated and placed at a risk of infection; the action she will take to ensure that appropriate facilities are available to all cystic fibrosis patients who require inpatient treatment; the progress made to date with regard to the long promised new hospital wing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26656/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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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.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Is the Minister aware that the young man who is the subject of this question and who is 23 years of old and suffering from cystic fibrosis was admitted to a ward with five chronically ill elderly patients? Will she acknowledge that, because of the risk of cross-infection, it is an entirely inappropriate way in which to treat any cystic fibrosis patient who comes into hospital? Will she acknowledge it is unsatisfactory that this young man's family, who have already lost one son to cystic fibrosis, felt the need to sanitise the floor area around his bed and scrub down the bed frame because they found signs of blood on it? Will she acknowledge that is completely inappropriate and scandalous treatment of any cystic fibrosis patient?

Will the Minister acknowledge that it should not be necessary for a question of this nature to be raised by a patient? This question was tabled on Thursday of last week and the patient was moved into an isolation room on Friday. I do not believe that was a coincidence.

Will the Minister explain why she made an absolute commitment in this House in January 2008 that 14 new isolation rooms for cystic fibrosis patients would be established in St. Vincent's hospital by September 2008 but that, to date, only eight such rooms have been established?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been in touch with the hospital and the clinical nurse manager did the work the Deputy suggested was done by the family. She confirmed that. She also confirmed that she spoke to the patient on foot of the question tabled by Deputy Shatter, which was unusual - I would have thought it more appropriate that the question would have been raised and dealt with privately in the hospital - and that he had no complaint in regard to the matters the Deputy mentioned.

I accept the patient was in a room with other patients and, in an ideal situation, that should not be the case. That is why we are moving as quickly as we can to provide the additional facilities at St. Vincent's hospital. Notwithstanding the tight budgetary situation, we have found an innovative way for the facility to proceed with the Exchequer paying at the end of the project construction period rather than on a phased basis, which means it will be paid for at the start of 2011.

We have done an enormous amount over the past number of years for cystic fibrosis patients. When it met me recently, their association recognised that. However, I accept we still have quite a way to go to reach a situation where every patient will be directly admitted to a single room and, therefore, minimise the capacity for cross-infection.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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When will the long promised new facility at St. Vincent's hospital go to tender? When will construction start because the date has been a moveable feast? In January 2008, the Minister informed the House it would be open by 2010 but in the recent debate in this House in April, she said 2011. Will she clarify when it will go to tender and when construction will start?

It is my information that two weeks ago, 34 cystic fibrosis patients were accommodated in St. Vincent's hospital, primarily in St. Christopher's ward, which includes the eight isolation units, and in St. Paul's ward, which has accommodation for 22 patients. It is my information that St. Paul's ward, which deals especially with respiratory patients, is scheduled to close today. Will the Minister clarify what facilities will be available to cystic fibrosis patients in the coming weeks if this ward closes as of today in accordance with the information received by me?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The delay arose because of dialogue between the architects nominated by the association, or the people involved in the cystic fibrosis community, and the architects and design team for St. Vincent's hospital. As I said in the House some time ago, that delayed it. I am not blaming anybody but I understand from the HSE that added to the timeframe. I am advised by the HSE that it will go to tender shortly.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Does "shortly" mean July or next October?

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I do not know whether it means next week or the week after but contracts will be signed this year, the facility will be constructed next year and will be paid for at the start of 2011 and commissioned at that point. I am not aware of the plan to close St. Christopher's ward. I will have that matter checked and revert to the Deputy.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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For the Minister's information, it is St. Paul's ward and not St. Christopher's ward.