A NEW ward block under construction at St Vincent’s hospital in Dublin will be able to accommodate as many as 34 cystic fibrosis patients in single rooms, the hospital and the Health Service Executive has confirmed.
Their statement followed deep unease among members of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI) after it emerged last week that it was proposed that just 20 inpatient beds in the new development would be dedicated to cystic fibrosis patients.
Philip Watt, chief executive of the association, said 20 beds would be seriously inadequate and would result in waiting lists in winter, when patients were at their sickest and did not have time to wait for beds.
For most of February last year, there were more than 30 cystic fibrosis patients in St Vincent’s, the national centre for treatment of adults with the condition. “Most of the time there are at least 25 inpatients during the winter months,” Mr Watt said.
The hospital’s chief executive, Nicky Jermyn, however said 20 inpatient beds would be the minimum allocated to cystic fibrosis patients in the new 100-bed block.
“The number of cystic fibrosis inpatients at St Vincent’s University hospital is expected to vary between 20 and 34. In this respect, 20 inpatient beds is a minimum and not a maximum, and the number of beds with appropriately trained staff can potentially accommodate 34 inpatients,” according to a statement signed by Mr Jermyn and other interested parties, including the HSE.
“When the beds are not required for cystic fibrosis, they will be used for other inpatients with a clearly agreed protocol that there will always be beds available for patients with cystic fibrosis who require admission,” it added.
The parties acknowledged it was essential all inpatients with cystic fibrosis were cared for in single en suite rooms to prevent cross-infection. Mr Watt, who also signed the statement, said he welcomed this clarification.