Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (CFI) has received the very welcome news that building will shortly commence on the long promised 20-room adult CF inpatient unit in Beaumont Hospital.
The green light for the actual commencement of building has now been given by the HSE and the Hospital, hoardings have been erected and a builder will be appointed shortly. Building will commence in January 2024 and should be completed by the summer of 2025 (our estimate). A key rationale for this project is that the existing number of dedicated rooms for adults with CF compared with numbers attending Beaumont Hospital falls well short of the NCPCF and European standards of care.
The Unit will cost over €20m, most of which will be provided by Government. Advocacy and part-funding for this Unit came from Cystic Fibrosis Ireland working in partnership with (the former) local North Dublin charity, CF Hopesource.
CFI wishes to thank all who have been closely involved in this project over many years. Patient group representatives on the building (capital) advisory group included Maeve Mullin and John Ward and CEO of CFI, Philip Watt. Clinical participation included Professor Gerry McElvaney and Professor Cedric Gunaratnam. We thank all the members of this advisory group and successive CEO's in Beaumont Hospital for their support over the years. It has been a long and winding road with some false dawns for patients, so it is welcome the final go ahead has now been given.
The building of the Unit was to have commenced by 2021/2022 but was delayed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, along with most build projects on the Beaumont Campus. The architects are prestigious Irish firm Scott Tallon and Walker.
With thanks to successive Ministers of Health, former Minister for Disabilities Finian McGrath and members from all political parties for their support for this project over many years. In addition to CF Hopesource, the support of the Eastern Branch of CFI led by Mary McCarroll and the 'Head to Head' walks have played a key role in fundraising and raising awareness for this project and we thank our past and current members of CFI Board of Management ably led by Bernie Priestley, the CFI Chairperson.
