Living with cystic fibrosis

[greengoose]

Letter taken from the Irish Times 22/01/08


Reading this letter prompts me to ask the question - What precisely was the money spent on? Indeed one might wonder if there was any money released to spend in the first place.

Is Finian simply posturing or has he been handed a script written by the FF management?

I am sure that if there was some remarkable improvement in the Beaumont CF facilities it would have been shouted from the rooftops and collective back slapping and photo shoot would have been the order of the day.

[size=7]Living with cystic fibrosis[/size]

Madam, - The capital cost of funding, properly, the required seven dedicated centres to provide care and treatment to young adults with cystic fibrosis, based on a six, single en-suite rooms, would amount to an estimated €35 million.
The allied cost to the Exchequer to adequately staff each of these units would be about €1.5 million a year.
This expenditure would make fiscal sense, given that the creation of these dedicated CF units would free up A&E trolley spaces (where CF patients are treated currently) and reduce the pressure on beds in wards.
Surely this is a win-win situation. So why isn't it happening? And why are young people with this debilitating and life-shortening illness compelled to take to the national airwaves and newspapers to highlight their plight?
On Morning Ireland last week Independent TD Finian McGrath told about the €2.5 million he secured for CF outpatient services at Beaumont Hospital, as part of his deal with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to support the Government.
This spending for his constituency is welcome. But it falls well short of the money needed to deal with the issue nationally. Could Mr. McGrath's negotiation skills not have extended to a statewide strategy for CF?
[color=red]So fulsome was the TD's praise for Government Ministers generally and Minister for Health Mary Harney, in particular, for embracing the cause of people with cystic fibrosis that one might have been forgiven for believing the problem was solved.[/color]
That Cabinet members continues to preside over a health care system which fundamentally disrespects the predicament of people with cystic fibrosis is shameful. - Yours, etc,
GERPHILPOTT,
Dublin 3.

[Aindriu]

CF patients here are treated appallingly compared to other EU countries. Their life expectancy is some 10 years less than their counterparts in the UK for example.

So much for Mary Harney caring for patients - does she feck!!

[McCool]

Today's letter, though not in relpy to yesterday's one

Madam, - While I commend most of your Editorial on cystic fibrosis (January 16th) I have to object to your comments about "a backstairs political deal". I have always been open and accountable on my agreement with the Taoiseach. I have spoken many times since in the Dáil on the content which includes services for cystic fibrosis patients.

I will continue to listen to the patients, parents and the professionals on this urgent matter. I will also use my clout. I have to ensure that they get quality services as a right. - Yours, etc,

FINIAN McGRATH TD (Independent, Dublin North Central), Dáil Éireann, Dublin 2.

Also, AFAIK the deal was for St Vincents and not Beaumont.