The Medical and Scientific Council of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland is made up of Healthcare professionals and Scientists who look after children and adults with Cystic Fibrosis in the Republic of Ireland. There have been a  number of recent comments in the media regarding Cystic Fibrosis. It is important that we clarify some issues regarding Cystic Fibrosis in the interest of patient care.  This is especially important because the Republic of Ireland has the highest incidence of Cystic Fibrosis in the world. While the severity varies from person to person, the average disease severity of Cystic Fibrosis in the Republic of Ireland is greater than that in other areas such as Northern Ireland, the United States and Canada.

The care of people with Cystic Fibrosis involves a spectrum of care including outpatient and home care, day care treatment in hospital, and inpatient hospital care.  People with Cystic Fibrosis have intermittent exacerbations (worsening) of their condition and these exacerbations become more frequent and usually more severe with increasing age. Effective treatment of these exacerbations improves health and quality of life and is very important in preventing or slowing the decline in health that otherwise occurs. Some people with exacerbations may be treated at home or as outpatients.  However many people will not recover from their exacerbation with outpatient treatment and these people must be treated in hospital without delay; this is especially so for adults and those with severe disease.

Therefore there is an ongoing need for dedicated inpatient beds for people with Cystic Fibrosis throughout Ireland and this need increases as people grow older. In keeping with international standards, we have  repeatedly pointed out that inpatients with Cystic Fibrosis should all be treated in single rooms and we have previously outlined the number of rooms that are needed. We acknowledge that the care of people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland has improved since the Pollock report due to investment by the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. However present hospital facilities are not ideal in all centres and the  number of single inpatient rooms for people with Cystic Fibrosis remains inadequate.

We are very concerned that some people with Cystic Fibrosis do not come in to hospital for necessary treatment, or delay coming to hospital, because of their concerns about hospital facilities. Therefore we want to make it clear that the health benefits of hospitalization far exceed any possible risks for people with Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland. Hospital care improves the health of people with Cystic fibrosis. Delays in the treatment of CF exacerbations may lead to permanent damage to the health of people with Cystic Fibrosis.

People with Cystic Fibrosis and their families battle with CF every day of their lives from the time they are born. They are among the bravest people in our society. We have lobbied, and will continue to lobby, for the resources needed to treat people with Cystic Fibrosis and we will be pleased to work with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children to achieve this

Prof. Charles Gallagher
Dr. Dubhfeasa Slattery
Prof. Billy Bourke,
Dr. Gerry Canny
Dr. Brian Casserly
Dr. Animitra Das
Prof. Jim Egan
Dr. Basil Elnazir
Dr. Peter Greally
Dr. Cyril Gunaratnam
Dr. James Hayes
Dr. Michael Henry
Dr. Mary Herzig
Dr. Ann Leahy
Dr. Fergus Leahy
Ms Geraldine Leen
Dr. Barry Linnane
Dr. Michael Mahony
Prof. Gerry McElvaney
Dr. Ed McKone
Dr. Paul McNally
Dr. Eithne Mulloy
Dr. Philip Murphy
Dr. Muireann NiChroinin
Dr. Michael O’Neill
Dr. Barry Plant
Dr. Mark Rogan
Dr. Rohininath Tummaluru
Dr. David Vaughan
Mr. Philip Watt

Medical and Scientific Council of the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland