Relief as cystic fibrosis facility finally opens

A NEW purpose-built facility for patients with cystic fibrosis has opened at St Vincent’s Hospital.

The news has been warmly welcomed by sufferers of the condition and their families who had campaigned long and hard for the establishment of a dedicated centre in Ireland.

Describing the opening to the new e28 million ward block as

“long overdue but very welcome,

? Tallaght based Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, said:

“After a seven-year campaign by advocate groups who fought for improved services for patients with cystic fibrosis, we finally have a purpose built facility at St Vincent’s Hospital that will provide state-of-the-art treatment for people with this potentially life-threatening condition.

“The investment will provide 20 inpatient single en-suite bedrooms for patients with cystic fibrosis and an additional 10 day beds. Hospital sources have also said the number of inpatient beds for cystic fibrosis patients could be increased to 34 if required.

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The new block at St Vincent’s Hospital, named the Nutley Wing, has five wards with 20 inpatient single, en-suite bedrooms housed over seven storeys. Twenty per cent of the beds on each of the wards will be isolation rooms with positive and negative air exchange, which is necessary to treat cystic fibrosis, a condition caused by a defective gene that means the body produces abnormally thick and sticky mucus.

“The new ward block will also provide specialist facilities for cancer care, infectious diseases, urology, and haematology and all areas of the new ward block should be fully functional by the end of August,

? Deputy Crowe added.

“The development of these new facilities will be a significant improvement on the existing level of care currently available for cystic fibrosis patients in Ireland and I hope there will be sufficient inpatient beds available to treat all people with this condition whenever they require hospitalisation in single en-suite rooms.

“I wish to commend everyone who campaigned so hard to have this new facility opened and I know that it will make a massive difference to the lives of people who suffer from this condition and need specialised care.

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