Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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On Wednesday morning, during Leaders' Questions, Deputy Finian McGrath sought clarification from the Taoiseach on the statement issued by the HSE last Wednesday week that the 34 promised isolation beds for cystic fibrosis patients in the new unit at St. Vincent's hospital were to be reduced to 20. This statement was issued by the Department after the "Prime Time" programme on Wednesday evening. I heard the Minister's response to Deputy McGrath, which was that late last Friday the Taoiseach, and possibly the Minister, met with Professor Charlie Gallagher and the CEO of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and Mr. Philip Watt along with hospital and HSE officials. There was clarification on the issue, namely, that there would be a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 34 bed units, that two bed units would be available at all times to CF patients in the hospital and that these units, whether in rooms or wards, would be infection free.

The Minister must agree the whole saga has knocked the confidence of cystic fibrosis sufferers, their families and friends. Before the election, the Minister and the Taoiseach were around the CF issue like a rash. Only the week before last the Taoiseach received a very warm welcome at the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland, CFAI, conference because of the commitments the Fine Gael party had given towards a 34-bed unit at the new St. Vincent's unit. Since Wednesday I have spoken to people affected by this issue. They want more than a verbal clarification on the issue. In my experience, a verbal commitment is not worth the paper on which it is not written. Today I wish to have the Minister's commitment that a written statement will be drawn up with the agreement of the hospital, the HSE and the consultant, Professor Gallagher, with protocols put in place in respect of bed management and the two beds that are to be left infection free for CF patients. I also want clarification by 17 May of the commitment to 34 beds for CF patients. People believe this must be the case. We want a committed, unequivocal commitment from the Minister's Government, stating this will happen. That date is three weeks away and this allows time for the groups to meet.

I have spoken to people from the Cystic Fibrosis Association in the past 24 hours who want this, and they want it in writing. That is the only outcome that will calm them and revive the confidence of CF sufferers in this country who deserve to have these facilities copperfastened and in place. That should not be a problem for the Minister who had commitment before the election to these patients, as he now has. I know the matter can be dealt with and I wish to have commitment today, in this Chamber, that there will be a written statement putting in place all protocols for this matter to be dealt with in the hospital and in order that we will not have to argue the toss when people arrive in accident and emergency departments in the future.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy opposite for allowing me the opportunity to bring absolute clarity to this very important issue. I shall correct some of the statements made. Notwithstanding the Taoiseach's well-known interest in this area, he was not involved during the events of last week. It became apparent after the "Prime Time" programme that there was considerable lack of clarity and much concern for many people in respect of the number of beds available for the treatment of cystic fibrosis patients in the new unit. In order to address that we arranged to bring people together so that they could communicate. Let me be absolutely clear - there was communication between all interested parties and this was arranged by me and my Department in order to clarify the issue. Arising from that, a statement has been published on both the CFAI and the HSE websites, signed off by all parties. Therefore, there is no confusion.

The building of the new ward block at St.Vincent's Hospital is a priority for me, as Minister for Health, for the Government and for the HSE. My commitment to cystic fibrosis is no less now than it was when I first stood in this Chamber as a new Deputy on the first Adjournment debate for which I called on the issue. The development of the new 100 bed unit being built at St. Vincent's Hospital encompasses both inpatient and day care facilities for patients with cystic fibrosis. It represents a major improvement in the care of CF patients in Ireland. It is essential that all inpatients are cared for in single en suite rooms, by multidisciplinary teams with special training in cystic fibrosis.

The new unit will have 100 inpatient beds and ten day care beds and is due to be completed next year. Progress is being expedited as we speak. The new building, which I reiterate has single en suite rooms and isolation rooms, will play a vital role in the treatment of patients with cystic fibrosis and a range of other ailments.

It is Department of Health policy that there must be sufficient inpatient beds to treat all people with cystic fibrosis who require hospitalisation. Last week I arranged communication between the various stakeholders to ensure there was a common understanding about the precise arrangements related to cystic fibrosis patients in the new unit. It is important to emphasise the position was agreed with all the stakeholders. The number of cystic fibrosis inpatients at St Vincent's Hospital and the resultant requirement for beds is expected to vary between 20 and 34. In this respect 20 inpatient beds is a minimum number not a maximum, and the number of beds with appropriately trained staff that can potentially accommodate 34 patients will be provided.

The Deputy must agree, as do people within CFAI and others, that if there is a situation where there are 22 patients in the hospital with cystic fibrosis and 12 beds in isolation rooms lying idle we could not in conscience tolerate a situation where a young, immunocompromised, terminally ill man on chemotherapy or a similarly immunocompromised mother in her 30s would be left on a trolley in the accident and emergency department. I do not believe any Member of this House would accept that nor do I believe anybody in CFAI was looking for it. What they want is an assurance that when somebody with cystic fibrosis is ill, he or she can have a bed in an isolation room with an en suite facility and be attended to by staff who are trained specifically in the care of cystic fibrosis. That has been confirmed.

It is important to note there is a much greater understanding now and that Professor Charles Gallagher, who is the leading light in cystic fibrosis treatment in this country and serves on the medical board of the CFAI, Mr. Philip Watt, on behalf of the CFAI, Mr. Nicky Jermyn, the chief executive of the hospital and Dr. Barry White, a clinical director of the HSE all got together via telephone to discuss this. They agreed an absolute and clear understanding, clear to the point where two of the parties were perfectly happy to post the same statement, signed by all four parties, on their respective websites.

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to clarify any misunderstanding and confusion, lack of clarity and communication. I remain totally committed to this very important project which will, in my view, improve services to patients with cystic fibrosis attending the hospital. It is my belief also this unit will go a very long way towards improving the quality of life and the life expectancy of patients with cystic fibrosis so that they will match the international norms of which we are aware, and we will no longer have to preside over the terrible situation where citizens of this country have a life expectancy that is ten years less than that of their cousins in Northern Ireland.