Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Before making a few points about the future of the Rowan ward at Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot, as the Minister of State is probably aware, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre website there are approximately 7,000 reported cases of HIV in Ireland, including 331 new HIV diagnoses in 2010, comprising 240 males and 89 females. There were 134 new HIV diagnoses among the category of men who have sex with men. There were 123 new cases among the heterosexual category, 54 male and 69 female, in 2010. One of the saddest findings is that 136 babies were born with HIV in Ireland last year.

I give that information to set the context because many people might not know that the 18-bed Rowan Ward in Cherry Orchard Hospital in Ballyfermot is the only public HIV unit in the country, to the best of our knowledge. People travel from Cork, Galway, Donegal and elsewhere if they need to access treatment in that hospital. That in itself is wrong. We should not have only one public HIV respite unit in the country. We have begun to hear rumblings from the HSE - through the usual manner in which it gets word out that it is about to close a ward or that there are problems - that this ward could be closed.

This ward is a safety net for the thousands of people with HIV who need to come into the unit to get reassessed if they become ill, or to be properly fed and get proper rest. It is a very important ward. Many of the people to whom we talked believe the ward is a lifeline for them. If they did not have access to this ward, they would be in serious trouble. Many people who access the ward are homeless and need the services in Cherry Orchard Hospital. St. James's Hospital treats patients going through the chaotic and chronic stages of HIV but the ward in Cherry Orchard Hospital provides respite care and serves people who need to cope with readjustment and require support. It is a very sensible service. If it were not available, the patients who attend it would have to go directly to the main hospitals which, as we know, are already operating under huge pressure. The service provided in this ward is both socially and economically necessary. The nursing staff are brilliant; all the patients have great praise for the senior nursing staff. They do more than just run the ward well; they give of their own time.

Rumours abound that this ward will be closed. It is always impossible to get a straight answer from the HSE. The head of the HSE in the Dublin West constituency will not confirm or deny the rumours, yet on Monday, 12 September, the word was out that the staff were instructed not to allow any more admissions into the ward. That in itself amounts to nearly the closure of the ward and is an alarming development for those who want to access this service.

There are three men who have been in the ward for up to 14 years; the ward is their home at this stage. They are fearful of what will happen to them. When asked where they would go, they were told they would be probably moved into one of the elderly units that cater for elderly people with Alzheimer's disease and other conditions. This is not acceptable. What we want to hear today is a categorical announcement from the Minister of State that this ward will remain open. If there are problems with the ward because of its age, we want to hear that it will not be closed until an alternative, fit for purpose accommodation for HIV patients is found for these patients.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I thank Deputies Collins, Daly and Boyd Barrett for raising this issue.

I will read from some of the text that has been circulated. The Government's response to HIV and AIDS is led by the National AIDS Strategy Committee, NASC, which is an advisory group to the Minister and was set up in 1991 to address the emerging AIDS crisis. Membership of the committee includes officials from the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive, representatives of NGOs and other Government Departments. In addition to HIV, the committee has also taken on an advisory role with regard to sexually transmitted infections, STIs. The NASC published its first report in 1992, and followed up in 2000 with the production of the AIDS Strategy 2000 document, which is still the policy from which Ireland operates in relation to HIV and AIDS.

Last year there were 331 new HIV diagnoses which represents a 16% decrease compared to 2009 when 395 new cases were diagnosed. Recent figures published by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre show that the category of men who have sex with men is now the predominant mode of transmission in Ireland. While this overall decrease in new HIV cases is very welcome we must continue to focus on effective preventative measures to address this trend. Government policy is that appropriate treatment is made available free of charge to all who test positive for HIV at the various statutory centres that provide HIV and STI services throughout the country.

In regard to the Rowan Ward, it was established in 1990 in response to a number of clients who suffered from AIDS and AIDS-related disorders. Since that time there have been very considerable advances in the treatment of HIV and AIDS. The Rowan Ward has in recent years evolved into a facility providing socialrespite care to what is now, thankfully, a static group of people living with HIV. Of the 18 beds available, three people living with HIV have become long-stay residents of the unit. This facility is based on the campus of Cherry Orchard Hospital, which primarily provides long-term care to the local elderly population.

I advise the Deputy that in the short time available to me to look into this matter, I was told that the HSE is currently reviewing all services on the Cherry Orchard campus in the context of the current economic pressures and the existing moratorium on recruitment of additional nursing staff. The review will explore if services currently being provided by the Rowan unit could be provided more effectively in a different setting, taking into account the needs of the people currently using this social respite service. No decision will be made on the Rowan Ward until the review is completed. However, whatever decision is taken, the residents of the Rowan Ward will continue to receive appropriate quality care.

I thank the Deputies for bringing this matter to my attention. I was not aware that this was on the cards. I have had some difficulty in getting a definitive answer from the HSE in the past hour or so that I have been in a position to pursue the matter.

While this is a service matter for the HSE, I am very dissatisfied with the extent and the quality of the information that has been available to me. I had hoped to be in a position to provide more detailed information and to share it with the Deputies this afternoon. Unfortunately, that information was not forthcoming. My intention now is to establish the facts surrounding what is a rumour about the future of this unit. I want to know whether the unit is to remain in use and, if so, the plans for it. In the event that any question arises about the closing of this unit on the basis that it is not suitable for one reason or another or cannot remain in existence, I want clear information about suitable and appropriate alternative accommodation for the long-stay residents who are there at the moment and an assurance that there will be a facility which will be able to cater for any future demand in this regard.

In regard to the issue of respite care, if a decision is taken on the basis of the review that I am told is under way, replacement beds will have to be made available for those people in the unit who predominantly are people who have difficulties in regard to homelessness and addiction, who are being catered for at present, which provides respite for themselves and for their families. I will seek an assurance that suitable alternative accommodation will be made available.

I regret that I am not in a position to provide more detailed information to the Deputies and I thank them for bringing this matter to my attention.

Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank the Minister for her reply. Obviously, she is experiencing the same difficulties as everybody else with the HSE in trying to find out exactly what is the position in regard to this ward. I am pleased that she expressed concern about the need for this ward, the respite care that is required and the need to provide for the three long-stay patients in the ward. I ask her to contact us as soon as she hears from the HSE in regard to the matter. We do not want any changes to be made until a suitable alternative ward is made available, appropriate systems are in place and there is access for HIV-AIDS patients to respite care. I believe the Minister would agree that this is a very important service for these people who, in the most chaotic moments of their lives, need somewhere to go. This ward has been a mainstay for these people in the past. I welcome the Minister's response. I hope she will follow through on it and that the ward will not be closed unless an alternative is provided.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I assure the Deputies that I am looking for a full report on this from the HSE. I want to establish the facts and precisely what the plans are for this facility. I wanted to try to get a categorical statement from the HSE on the plans as soon as possible. As soon as I have that information, I will share it with the Deputies and write to each of the three of them directly to provide it. I am also anxious that any decisions will be taken in consultation with the national AIDS strategy group because that is where the expertise lies and the plans encompass the community working in the area of AIDS. I will be looking for this consultation to take place and will be in touch with the Deputies as soon as I possibly can.