Quality Assurance Study Pollock Report on
Cystic Fibrosis Services (Ireland)
Client Issue: In 2004/05 The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland had become increasingly concerned that services for this group of patients & their families was notably less successful than elsewhere, notably in neighbouring N Ireland, the UK & Scandinavia. We were therefore commissioned to undertake a study:
-to review existing hospital services for Cystic Fibrosis in Ireland & to relate these to international standards
-to comment on the ability of the service as at present configured to deliver care to accepted standards
-to review the measures which might be taken to improve outcomes nationally
Solution: An extensive literature review was undertaken by Dr Ronnie Pollock & visits were made to the highly regarded units in London at the Royal Brompton Hospital & Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Phone interviews were also conducted with medical & lay experts at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK & with other relevant specialists in Belfast & Birmingham. Visits were made to 10 of the existing 13 Units in Ireland. These studies indicated that there were too many, too small, poorly staffed units in Ireland & that too few resources were thinly & inefficiently spread out.
Outcome: The Pollock Report of our findings & recommendations was published by the Association in 2005. Key recommendations were that the existing 13 poorly staffed units should be replaced by 7 units with greatly improved staffing & financial support, with good geographical coverage. Our report was accepted by the Irish Dept of Health & has resulted in increased funding being made available & new posts being created, moving the service significantly towards the goals set out in our recommendations.
