THERE ARE CURRENTLY five cystic fibrosis patients waiting for an in-patient room in St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland (CFAI).
The Association said up to seven cystic fibrosis patients have been waiting for a room over the past week and this is “completely unacceptable and is jeopardising the health” of the patients.
In July this year the management of the hospital signed an agreement with the CFAI, the Department of Health and the HSE that up to 34 beds would be provided when needed in the newly reconstructed wing of the hospital which was opened in August.
There are a total of 100 isolation rooms in this new wing which was built as a result of campaigning over a period of more than 10 years.
St Vincent’s Hospital said there are 29 CF patients in the hospital and one non urgent patient awaiting admission but the CFAI said there are five people on the waiting list.
The association said this is causing anxiety to those waiting for admission and that this situation is “likely to worsen as the winter progresses and needs to be sorted now”.
“Ward lying idle”
The CFAI said today it has learned that there is “at least one general ward lying idle” elsewhere in St Vincent’s Hospital and there is also room space in the old private patient hospital.
CF patients need to be accommodated in single isolated rooms for treatment and to avoid cross infection and the association said these rooms and ward space should be opened for non-CF patients to alleviate the pressure on the Nutley Wing.
The CFAI has written to the HSE and the manager of the hospital to seek a meeting to review the management of CF beds at St Vincent’s.
St Vincent’s confirmed that it had received the letter and said it is “very happy to participate in such a review”.
The hospital said that in the meantime it will continue to priorities CF patients for admission based on their clinical need and will ensure critically ill patients are admitted in a timely manner.
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