Vol. 420 No. 4
139 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he will make a statement on the private scheme whereby parents are trained to provide intravenous drug treatment for children with cystic fibrosis, currently operated in St. Vincent's, Harcourt Street and Crumlin hospitals; and if he will make provision for this scheme to be continued.
Cystic fibrosis patients are provided with intravenous antibiotics as part of their treatment.
Where the patients are children, the parents are educated and trained to administer the drugs by a cystic fibrosis nurse. This allows the child to live a normal lifestyle outside of the hospital setting. The cystic fibrosis nurse acts as a liaison between the parents and the hospital, and can be contacted immediately if the patient experiences any problems. There are at present four special nursing posts associated with St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, National Children's Hospital, Harcourt Street and the Cork Regional Hospital. I understand that certain issues have recently arisen in relation to the funding of two of these posts and my Department is discussing the matter at present with the hospitals concerned.
