James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the status of the 14 additional fast tracked single room beds for people with cystic fibrosis; if they will be ring-fenced for cystic fibrosis patients only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28079/08]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 203: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a project (details supplied). [28242/08]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 222: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when the individual isolation units for cystic fibrosis in-patients at St Vincent's Hospital will be completed and ready for use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26721/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 202, 203 and 222 together.

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.

The HSE has advised that 44 additional staff dealing with cystic fibrosis have been appointed to date across a number of hospitals, including St. Vincent's, Beaumont, Temple Street, Crumlin, Tallaght, Cork University Hospital, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. The necessary funding is available to facilitate the recruitment of a further 37 staff nationally.

I asked the HSE to place a particular focus on the development of services at St. Vincent's Hospital, the National Adult Tertiary Centre for the treatment of persons with cystic fibrosis, 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 under way on the refurbishment of accommodation to provide eight single en-suite rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis. The HSE expects that these beds will be operational within the next few weeks. On completion of this first phase, work will commence to further increase the number of single rooms for patients with cystic fibrosis.