Staffing levels in hospitals caring for people with cystic fibrosis (CF) need to be dramatically increased, according to a new report commissioned by the Health Service Executive.
The report, published today, also identifies the need for more single rooms for CF patients to minimise the risk of cross-infection among patients.
"The need for infrastructural development is evident in many CF centres, particularly to enable appropriate management of infection control in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The development of adequate single room, en-suite accommodation is a priority," the report says.
The report comes from a working group set up by the HSE in 2005 following a damning report on the state of existing services commissioned from Dr Ronnie Pollock by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland.
That report found patients were being treated in units with few if any isolation facilities, putting them at risk of picking up infection from other patients. It concluded the lack of segregation and isolation facilities for patients at St Vincent's Hospital in Dublin - the national referral centre for people with CF - was "dangerous".
The recommendations of the HSE review group endorse many aspects of the Pollock report, pointing out that deficits in staffing levels and accommodation across the country have not kept pace with the increase in the CF population.
There are over 1,000 CF patients in the State and Ireland, according to the World Health Organisation, has the highest known incidence of the condition.
The review group calls again, as many previous reports did, for a neonatal screening service for CF to prevent delayed diagnosis of the condition. It also calls for the establishment of a national CF reference laboratory.
In addition, it says CF patients should not have to access hospital services through A&E in emergency situations.
Furthermore it says the clinical care of people with CF should be overseen by a specialist centre with sufficient patients to ensure provision of the range of services patients need.
The report also notes the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland reported many CF patients and their families experience financial hardship because of the inconsistent interpretation of rules around medical card allocation in different parts of the country, payment for GP visits and hospital inpatient charges.
The additional staff required to bring each CF centre up to standard will cost an estimated €10 million over three years, the report adds.
The HSE confirmed last week builders are about to be selected to build a new unit that will house long promised additional single rooms for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients at St Vincent's. The project is expected to be completed in 2011.