Taoiseach turns sod to mark the beginning new Cystic Fibrosis building at Mayo General Hospital

The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, turned the first sod on the site of a new day care and outpatient Cystic Fibrosis facility for adults and children at Mayo General Hospital as part of an official visit to the hospital today, Monday 16 December 2013.
 
A total investment of €1.3m has been agreed for the building, including approximately €900,000 raised by fundraising contributions coordinated by Cystic Fibrosis West (€615,000) working with the Mayo branch of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland (€285,000). A further €200,000 was contributed from the National Lottery and €200,000 will be provided by West/North West Hospitals Group through Mayo General Hospital.
 
The hospital will equip the new building at an estimated cost of €40,000.
 
The new Cystic Fibrosis Unit provides state of the art facilities for this patient group, with dedicated patient treatment rooms providing ensuite facilities and environmental separation through sophisticated Air Management Infrastructure, thus ensuring the best possible care environment.
 
According to Charlie Meehan, General Manager of Mayo General Hospital stated: "The Cystic Fibrosis clinic here at Mayo General Hospital has an outstanding and devoted medical staff. The new day care and outpatient facility will enable them to deliver the quality of care that children and adults with CF require in state of art clinical conditions."
Dr. Michael O’Neill, consultant paediatrician and lead of the CF team at Mayo General Hospital, stated, "CF care delivery is an evolving process and as such proper facilities are at the core to allow for innovation. On completion, this unit will make a tremendous difference to people with CF attending Mayo General. Routine procedures needed for the care and maintenance of people living with CF will all be done in a safe environment in a specialised building.
 
“The project provides 3200 sq ft of a new two storey block for the care of Cystic Fibrosis outpatients linked to the hospital infrastructure through the existing outpatient department. The unit provides two specialist patient areas, treatment facilities, education laboratory, conference and support facilities all integrated into the hospital infrastructure.
 
“The new unit will increase the life expectancy and improve the quality of life of the many CF Patients in Co Mayo."
 
The ceremony was attended by patients and staff and by representatives of Cystic Fibrosis West, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and the chairman and board and senior management of the West/North West Hospitals Group.
 
The Chairperson of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, John Coleman, stated “This vital project for people with CF in Mayo could only have been undertaken as a partnership between the hospital, voluntary fundraising and with the support of the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. It shows that charitable fundraising can make a huge impact for those with Cystic Fibrosis and we ask the public to continue to support similar vital causes. We would take this opportunity to thank the Hospital Management, the lead consultant, Dr Michael O Neill and his team in Mayo General Hospital and all who have supported this project through the fantastic fundraising of Mayo West and Cystic Fibrosis Ireland.”
 
Ms Martina Jennings of Cystic Fibrosis West stated ‘This has been a real partnership project between Mayo General Hospital, Cystic Fibrosis Ireland /CF West including the Mayo Branch of CFI and the HSE with invaluable support from An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD. We look forward to the completion of this facility, which will greatly enhance and prolong the lives of people with Cystic Fibrosis.”
 
Mr Noel Daly, chairman the West/North West Hospitals Group stated, “This is another very good day for the West /North West Hospitals Group in our deepening partnership with the CF community. We started work on a similar facility at University Hospital Galway on Monday at a cost approximately €590k with €250k being funded by the Cystic Fibrosis Association and the balance by the Group.”
 
The Taoiseach also officially opened a newly refurbished and extended €2m Renal Dialysis Unit (RDU) at Mayo General Hospital as part of his official visit to the hospital.