Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 December 2009
117 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if every hospital admitting patients with acute stroke has a properly staffed and fully resourced stroke unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46102/09]
View answer119 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if the appointment of more consultant stroke physicians to provide greater expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of stroke is proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46104/09]
View answer120 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if emergency services will be equipped to deal with acute strokes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46105/09]
View answer121 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to bring forward the development of a national stroke register; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46106/09]
View answer122 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if social and vocational supports will be available to enable stroke patients to achieve the best possible post-stroke quality of life; if State assistance will be available to ensure that persons who have had a stroke will have access to a properly-resourced support group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46107/09]
View answer123 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the appointment of regional stroke co-ordinators with responsibility for ensuring that stroke services in every community are meeting the needs of people who have had a stroke; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46108/09]
View answer124 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps she will take to eliminate age discrimination from stroke services and that they will always be provided on the basis of individual need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46109/09]
View answer125 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to establish a public health educational programme to increase awareness of stroke warning signs with a view to reducing the risk of stroke or transient ischaemic attack; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46110/09]
View answer126 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if social, emotional and practical needs of carers in supporting stroke survivors will be adequately addressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46111/09]
View answer127 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to ensure the adoption of a charter to inform all stroke patients, their families and carers of their entitlements in relation to hospital treatment, care and rehabilitation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46112/09]
View answer128 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if every stroke patient will be entitled to appropriate levels of short and long-term rehabilitation in hospital and in the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46113/09]
View answer129 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Health Service Executive complies with European stroke organisation guidelines in the delivery of a national network of stroke units; if she will arrange for continual monitoring of their compliance with these standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46114/09]
View answer130 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children if the 24/7 availability of thrombolysis clot-busting therapy will be available to all suitable stroke patients; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46115/09]
View answer131 Deputy Seán Barrett asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide consultant-led rapid access transient ischaemic attack clinics that will be open seven days a week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46116/09]
View answer138 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46197/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 119 to 131, inclusive, and 138 together.
In September 2007, I established a National Cardiovascular and Stroke Policy Group to review policy in this area and to draw up a new policy framework for the development of all aspects of cardiovascular health, including stroke. The Group considered the findings of the Irish National Audit of Stroke Care 2008 and addressed the issues raised, including awareness of stroke and recognition of symptoms, prevention of stroke, stroke treatment including emergency thrombolysis, stroke units and rehabilitation.
The Report of the Policy Group is being finalised at present. My Department is working closely with the Health Service Executive on an implementation plan. This will include a Health Service Executive Stroke Programme to support improvements in all aspects of stroke care. The aims of this programme will be to prevent stroke and to deliver high quality care to all patients with stroke, with a view to reducing the number of deaths and the number of patients with severe disability. Once approved by Government, this implementation plan will be published in conjunction with the Policy Report. Both these reports are expected to be brought to Government shortly.
