Madam, – The article “Harney reverses decision on CF facility”, (April 7th) refers to Prof Brendan Drumm’s statement to the Oireachtas Committee about the very low number of beds for cystic fibrosis sufferers in Toronto. While Prof Drumm is factually correct, he should have added that in Ireland only one CF person has received a lung transplant since 2005.
Meanwhile, in Toronto about 60 CF people received lung transplants between 2005 and 2007. If the Mater hospital provided the CF community with transplants here there would be less need for beds here also. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – With reference to the recent debacle over the postponement of the building of the cystic fibrosis unit at St Vincent’s Hospital and the vociferous, commendable campaign by Orla Tinsley, I would like to raise a few points.
I believe that the campaign sidelines the urgent and imperative need for organ donation which is ultimately the only thing that is going to save CF patients’ lives.
My husband died last October at 33 years of age. He had been a year on the transplant list. He was the first patient to die in the just- opened eight-bed St Christopher’s ward, and while these rooms do offer a much healthier environment and improved facilities for families and patients alike, they do not in themselves provide salvation for CF patients.
I feel that any discussion on cystic fibrosis, which is a degenerative and terminal illness, needs to be balanced with the reality of the situation: that organs are needed to save lives. This is not just a government (HSE) responsibility, but a responsibility of every single person in Ireland. – Yours, etc,