Vol. 435 No. 9
19 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent survey which indicates that people living in the Dublin area who require immediate hospital cardiac attention can be delayed at a crucial period between the onset of symptoms and admission to a hospital cardiac care unit; the measures, if any, he will introduce to address this serious delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I have only received a copy of the study referred to by the Deputy within the past few days. I shall certainly give careful consideration to the findings of the study, which I understand are based on data obtained during a one-week survey of coronary care units in 1992.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, in conjunction with the health boards, has undertaken a major review of the ambulance services nationally. One of the main areas examined by the review group has been pre-hospital cardiac care and the necessary links with the hospitals' coronary care units. I am confident that the report's recommendations in this regard will significantly improve the current situation throughout the country. I will be publishing the report of the review group in the next few weeks.
