Cystic fibrosis unit opens in Limerick
Tipperary Limerick, Clare for Cystic Fibrosis (TLC4CF) has welcomed the opening of a new adult CF unit at University Hospital Limerick.
The new state-of-the-art two-floor inpatient and outpatient unit was formally opened by Minister for Health Simon Harris last Friday week as part of the formal opening of the new six-storey Leben building.
Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and the three branches TLC4CF warmly welcomed the opening. Chairperson of TLC4CF Owen Kirby said: “The new unit will transform cystic fibrosis services to adults with CF in the greater Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and North Kerry areas.”
The unit comprises two floors of the new Leben building and is part of one of the largest voluntary partnership projects in the history of the health service in Ireland. In 2010 CFI/TLC4CF came together with the Parkinson's Association and the UHL Hospital Trust in Limerick to form a new company called ‘Leben’. The object was to improve facilities and services for patients with cystic fibrosis, Parkinson's Disease, stroke, dermatology issues and breast cancer.
“The new CF unit comprises two floors of the new Leben building and will cater for up to 120 adult cystic fibrosis patients. One floor is an ambulatory care (day-centre) and the other floor is a nine-bed inpatient ward with en suite facilities and hepa-filtration to help prevent cross infection,” stated Philip Watt, CEO of CFI.
The entire building has been funded from charitable fundraising, with fantastic support from the JP McManus Pro Am Foundation.
The additional staff costs and part of the equipment costs and the site for the building have been met by the HSE/UHL.
The Leben building in University Hospital Limerick represents one of the most remarkable developments in the history of Irish health care. There are several unique features to this project including:
It is a partnership project: On August 30th 2010, the three charities concerned set up a development company called ‘Leben’, in which all decision making for the build project was made and all funding for the project going forward was kept in escrow (joint account);
The charities contracted with the builder: In 2012 the three charities through Leben contracted with an Irish building company to build the six-storey building;
The project was funded and built during a period of economic crisis: This unit would not have been built other than for the efforts of the three charities involved in partnership with UHL and JP McManus. There was no capital funding available from government over the last few years for such major capital projects. Several million was raised by volunteers locally and during a recession to construct this project;
Patients' conditions have been dramatically improved: The CF unit will benefit adult CF patients and children over the age of 16 years who are attending UHL, as well as those with Parkinson's, stroke, cancer and serious skin conditions.
The largest single project within the Leben development was the Cystic Fibrosis Unit (two floors). While the two CF designated floors will primarily benefit CF adult patients, when the nine CF inpatient rooms are not needed for CF patients they will be made available to other very ill patients who need them.
Members of the TLC4CF committee who oversaw this project are: Owen Kirby (Chair of TLC4CF), Liam O'Kelly, Caitriona Hayes, Linda Drennan, Marcella Clancy and Siobhan McNulty.