Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the cystic fibrosis unit in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42746/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I am glad Deputy Paul Murphy made the point about Cuba. It might be worth the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, and the Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar visiting Cuba to see the health service at first hand to see how services are delivered even though they do not have the resources and they are still being hammered by the United States but that is for another debate.

My question is to ask the Minister if he will provide an update on the cystic fibrosis unit in St. Vincent's hospital. I raise this matter in light of the recent weather, the danger of infection and the fact that cystic fibrosis patients face a significant danger of cross-infection when in hospital. I ask the Minister if the service at St. Vincent's hospital is in a position to cope and if the use of individual rooms is working.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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St. Vincent’s University Hospital is the designated national adult referral centre for patients with cystic fibrosis and currently provides services for over 300 adult patients. The designated in-patient and day care cystic fibrosis unit in the new seven-storey Nutley wing development at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, became operational during summer 2012 and represents a major improvement in the care of cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland. This unit provides singleen suiterooms, reflecting best practice in terms of infection control. It also provides a dedicated CF day unit, containing offices, treatment rooms, together with ten single day-treatment rooms, each withen suite sanitary facilities for treating patients with cystic fibrosis.

Given the unique requirements of cystic fibrosis patients, there are specific processes in place at the hospital to manage their treatment and provide optimal care.

Patients with cystic fibrosis who are acutely sick and need admission to hospital are admitted that day. Patients are automatically admitted to single en suite rooms in St. Christopher’s ward or to the other wards in the new Nutley wing.

On rare occasions when infection control issues preclude admissions to the Nutley wing, patients are admitted to a single room elsewhere in the hospital. The patients are transferred to the Nutley wing once the infection control issues have been resolved.

The HSE has confirmed that the hospital has maintained its commitment to the cystic fibrosis escalation policy and no cystic fibrosis patient has been on a waiting list for a bed. In addition, the HSE, St. Vincent’s University Hospital and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland meet regularly to ensure the system works from a patient’s perspective.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for his response because it is important we keep an eye on this issue. As the Minister stated, 350 cystic fibrosis patients regularly use the unit. My experience is that the services and individual en suite rooms in the Nutley wing work. Many of us campaigned for them for many years. When the weather or climate changes, or we have an issue with mass infections or various types of flu, there could be a surge in the number of people wishing to use the cystic fibrosis unit at St. Vincent's Hospital. The Minister stated there is no waiting list and I would like him to confirm that when people turn up at St. Vincent's Hospital with cystic fibrosis complications, they do not hang around but immediately obtain a bed. We must be proactive on this issue, especially in light of our climate.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed in the reply there is no waiting list, and since the new unit has opened I have not heard of any case on the waiting list. I am enough months in the job at this stage not necessarily to believe everything I am told, but certainly I have not heard anything to the contrary.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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It seems to be the case based on my experience in recent months, but I want to highlight the fact we must be vigilant. It has stabilised and settled down but we must be ready for an influx of people seeking the services at St Vincent's hospital. There should never be a question of a lack of resources or money for these services. Certain issues such as health must come before tax cuts for the well-off. Any country or state which claims to be equitable and humane must put services such as health way ahead of any tax cuts for people with loads of money. Health should always come first.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy's point about a potential surge is well made. There is always the risk of a surge because of an infectious disease, and the last circumstance one would want is someone who is either immunosuppressed or has cystic fibrosis being mixed in with patients with an infectious disease. It is certainly a valid point on which I concur with the Deputy.