Cystic fibrosis care 'worst in Europe'

Services and facilities in Ireland for patients with cystic fibrosis are the worst in Europe, an Oireachtas Committee was told yesterday.

In a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) said in parts of the country there were adults with the condition being treated by paediatricians because of a shortage of staff.

The association said outpatient and inpatient services were being provided in "internationally unacceptable conditions" and with a substantial risk of cross-infection.

Cystic fibrosis is the most common life-threatening genetically-inherited disease in Ireland. It attacks the respiratory and digestive systems and leaves patients exposed to frequent infections. Around one in 1,600 people has the condition. More people in Ireland carry the CF gene. Life expectancy is lower here than in the North or Britain.

The chairman of the Medical and Scientific Council of the CFAI, Dr Charles Gallagher, said that facilities and services for cystic fibrosis care in Ireland were the "worst in Europe". He said that "many former east European countries had cystic fibrosis care that was much better than in Ireland". He said although the Department of Health had approved a screening programme for newborn babies for the condition, this had yet to be implemented in practice.

Dr Gallagher said the introduction of such a screening programme, which is already in place in the North and in Britain, could allow patients to be treated before major symptoms developed.However, a screening programme "was only practical if we have the facilities to treat [ patients] once they are diagnosed".

Cystic fibrosis patient Rory Tallon told the committee he would be "frightened to go into hospital at the moment with the level of cross-infection and the lack of single cubicles".