Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the meetings she has had or is proposing to have with the Health Service Executive in relation to the protection of cystic fibrosis sufferers from cross infection and specifically from pseudomonas aeruginosa particularly when they visit hospitals for treatment; if the HSE has or is proposing to have individual cubicles or isolation units to prevent such cross infection; the number of cases reported to the HSE for each of the past three years; the hospitals that such cases were reported in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15208/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I have had a number of meetings with cystic fibrosis patients attended by the Health Service Executive where the issue of infection control for patients was discussed. I also meet regularly with the CEO and the Chairman of the HSE where various matters of importance are discussed, including the issue of infection control. I identified the need to improve services for persons with cystic fibrosis as a priority in the Estimates process over recent years. Since 2006, additional revenue funding of €6.78m has been allocated to the HSE to develop services for patients with cystic fibrosis. I also asked the HSE to place a particular focus on the development of services at the National Adult Tertiary Referral Centre at St. Vincent's Hospital, where concerns had been raised regarding the need to improve facilities. A number of capital projects have been completed at the hospital and further developments are in progress.

In the longer term, a new ward block is to be built at St. Vincent's which will include 120 replacement beds in single en-suite accommodation. The new facility will accommodate cystic fibrosis patients and will include appropriate isolation facilities. The HSE advises that planning permission has been obtained, financial provision has been included in the HSE Capital Plan and the contract is to be awarded in 2008. It will be a condition of the contract that the design build period be no more than 24 months from the date of contract award. In the interim, work is underway on the refurbishment of accommodation to provide eight single en-suite rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis. The project is due to be completed over the coming months. On completion of this first phase work will commence to further increase the number of single rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis.

The HSE advises that patients with cystic fibrosis will also benefit from additional single room capacity in the new medical admissions unit at Beaumont Hospital which is due to open in December. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the operational issues raised in the question.