St. Vincent’s University Hospital launches Ireland’s first hospital-based support pathway for people with interstitial lung disease

1st October 2026

New programme will provide earlier education, rehabilitation and psychosocial support for patients living with complex lung conditions

St. Vincent’s University Hospital has today launched the first hospital-based pathway of its kind in the Republic of Ireland for people living with interstitial lung disease.

The new pathway brings specialist education, rehabilitation and psychosocial support together, helping patients understand their condition, manage its impact and access support before difficulties reach crisis point.

Interstitial lung disease describes more than 200 conditions that cause inflammation and, in some cases, scarring of the lungs. These include idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Alongside breathlessness and coughing, patients may experience severe fatigue, loss of strength, disrupted sleep, anxiety, social isolation and major changes to work, relationships and everyday life.

The first six-week phase begins today with a pilot group of approximately 10 to 15 patients referred through specialist ILD clinics at St Vincent’s.

The programme covers understanding ILD, managing breathlessness and fatigue, staying active, nutrition, cough and swallowing difficulties, oxygen safety, emotional wellbeing, practical and financial supports, flare-ups and when to seek help. A physical rehabilitation element will follow in the next phase.

The pathway was initiated by Darren Kenny, Senior Medical Social Worker, after his work with patients identified a gap in the support available earlier in their care. Darren has led its development with Professor Cormac McCarthy and colleagues across the Respiratory Multidisciplinary Team.

Darren Kenny said:

“In my work with people living with ILD, I was seeing the physical impact of the condition but also the anxiety, isolation and practical difficulties patients were trying to manage, often without support until they reached crisis point.

What began as a Medical Social Work initiative has grown into a multidisciplinary pathway bringing education, rehabilitation and psychosocial support together much earlier. I am very proud of what the team has built and of the role Medical Social Work has played in bringing it forward.”

The pathway brings together expertise from respiratory medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, dietetics, palliative care and medical social work.

Professor Cormac McCarthy, Consultant Respiratory Physician at St. Vincent’s University Hospital, said:

“Interstitial lung disease is complex and can affect people in very different ways. Good care must address the condition and its treatment, but it must also recognise the effect on a person’s strength, independence, emotional wellbeing and daily life.”

The Irish Lung Fibrosis Association has partnered with St. Vincent’s to create a more joined-up pathway between hospital care and its national peer-support, advocacy and community services. The partnership will help patients and families access support beyond the hospital at an earlier stage, before difficulties escalate.

A new patient booklet, Living with Interstitial Lung Disease, has also been developed to accompany the pathway. Created and coordinated by Aoife Mullen, Dietitian, with input from colleagues across the Respiratory Multidisciplinary Team, it gives patients and families clear information on ILD, symptom management, treatments, oxygen safety, flare-up planning and the hospital and community supports available to them.

Patients participating in the pilot will be invited to share their experiences. Their feedback will guide the next stage of the pathway and may help inform the future development of ILD services nationally.

Download the ILD patient booklet here

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