merrion street

I would like to thank the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland for inviting me here this evening to speak at your Conference.

I hope that you have been enjoying the fine weather here in this great county…

For 48 years, the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland has actively campaigned in the interests of people with cystic fibrosis and their families, increasing knowledge and awareness of the condition. It is as a result of their campaigning that the majority of services provided around the country are in existence.

This Government is very aware of the challenges that people with CF and their families face in managing their condition. You need dedicated accommodation in an environment which allows appropriate isolation for improved infection control.

I have had a long standing interest in the construction of a unit with dedicated CF capabilities at St. Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin. The contract was signed after years of delays and broken promises by a government experiencing an unprecedented economic success.

We are now on day 30 of a new government…and our country is facing an unprecedented economic crisis… so unlike the government that went before mine, I cannot, and will not, make major promises to you that can’t be delivered upon.

But I can tell to you that the new Unit in St. Vincent’s Hospital is on track, on time, on budget and it is my intention to make sure it remains that way. The new Programme for Government has committed to expediting its completion and commissioning.. and I am confident of delivering upon this.

You and your families have waited far too long for this project to open. It can never be forgotten that cystic fibrosis patients are fighting for their lives…you don’t have time for broken promises.

This new building will provide 5 wards of twenty new inpatient beds and will accommodate the needs of patients with cystic fibrosis and many other patients whose medical needs require single en suite facilities. Four of the beds on each of the wards will be isolation rooms and this represents best practice in terms of infection control. This new facility will also provide a day treatment service for patients.

The early detection and treatment of cystic fibrosis is essential in improving the life expectancy of CF patients. A Working Group, established in 1999, reported in 2004 about the extension of newborn screening to include CF but nothing happened until 2009…10 years later…the last government just did not understand that you don’t have time for these delays…

Theses screening programmes been introduced practically everywhere else in Europe but not here….It has been provided for all newborn babies in Northern Ireland since 1983…

Two years ago at this same annual conference, then Minister Micheal Martin stood before you and announced that the newborn screening programme would commence soon….you are still waiting.

In a country with one of the highest reported instances of CF in the world, we have to get this programme off the ground. Progress is being made on this… but I agree with you, it has been too slow. The HSE envisages that this screening will be integrated into the existing National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme this summer… and I intend to hold them to that.

Looking to the future, the HSE is now working with St. Vincent’s University Hospital to identify opportunities for patients who do not require tertiary level care to be treated close to home where adult services have been developed in other specialist centres nationwide. The aim is to provide appropriate treatment and care as close as possible to patient’s homes and to avoid where possible admission to hospital.

There are a number of services currently being provided through the Public Health Nursing Services for people with cystic fibrosis including parenting advice, developmental assessments and where appropriate, Home Help services. Physiotherapists are also available at community level. Assessments and interventions are carried out in a location most appropriate to the needs of the person, for example, at home, at the primary care centre or at the local physiotherapy outpatient department.

A new facility for adult patients with cystic fibrosis has been developed on the main campus of Cork University Hospital, which is due to be opened in the very near future. I understand that this development has been possible due to the collaboration between your Association, Build4life, the Adult Cystic Fibrosis Multi-disciplinary Team and the Executive Management Board of CUH. I congratulate all involved.

With a resounding mandate from the people, this government will reform our health system.

Indeed, our health reform programme represents the most revolutionary change in the Irish health system since its establishment. There will be some who will say that we cannot afford major reforms at a time of recession. To them I say: as budgets come under more pressure we can't afford not to reform our €16 billion a year health system.

Within this package of reforms, we will introduce Universal Health Insurance, ensuring equal access to care for all by 2016. Under UHI insurers will be obliged to offer the same package of services to all. There will be no discrimination between patients on the grounds of income or insurance status. The existing two-tier system of unequal access to hospital care will end.

I would like to acknowledge the wonderful work carried out by the Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland and I want to re-iterate my commitment to doing everything possible to secure improvements in services for people with cystic fibrosis. The current economic environment makes this all the more difficult, but I will continue in my efforts to make progress as quickly as possible.

I note that tomorrow morning, Philip Watt, your CEO, will address you on the ‘challenges of a new government’… well, I can tell him in advance there are many many challenges… I look forward to receiving a copy of this address.

With that, may I wish you all every success with your National Conference.