Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if he will confirm that 34 beds dedicated to cystic fibrosis patients only as recommended by international experts will now not be provided for at St Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. [8641/11]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The development of the new 100 bed Unit being built at St. Vincent's Hospital encompasses both in-patient and day care facilities for patients with Cystic Fibrosis. It represents a major improvement in the care of Cystic Fibrosis patients in Ireland. It is essential that all in-patients are cared for by multidisciplinary teams with special training in Cystic Fibrosis in single en suite rooms.

It is Department of Health policy that there must be sufficient in-patient beds to treat all people with Cystic Fibrosis who require hospitalisation. The number of Cystic Fibrosis in-patients at St. Vincent's University Hospital is expected to vary between 20 and 34. In this respect 20 in-patient beds is a minimum and not a maximum, and the number of beds with appropriately trained staff can potentially accommodate 34 patients. When the beds are not required for Cystic Fibrosis patients they will be used for other patients with a clearly agreed protocol that there will always be beds available for patients with Cystic Fibrosis who require admission.