Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Health and Children his views on recent reports that the number of inpatient beds dedicated to cystic fibrosis in the new block at St. Vincent's Hospital, Dublin, are to be reduced from the promised 34 to 20. [8958/11]

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. Last week I brought together the various stakeholders in order to ensure that there was a common understanding about the precise arrangements related to Cystic Fibrosis patients in the new Unit. The position agreed with the stakeholders is that 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 so that there will always be beds available for patients with Cystic Fibrosis who require admission.

Both the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and St Vincent's Hospital are satisfied that the arrangement now agreed will allow for the best utilisation of beds for those with Cystic Fibrosis and other conditions.