The ACS (acute coronary syndrome) Programme is a national clinical programme aimed at improving cardiac care throughout the country by providing patients with prompt access to higher level investigations and treatment such as cardiac catherisation (angiography), advanced radiology and critical care.
A service which is for a specific type of heart attack (ST elevation Myocardial Infarction, or STEMI) is currently provided at the MWRH Limerick Monday to Friday, 8 to 5. A STEMI is a heart attack caused by a blockage in the arteries. It is diagnosed by using 12 lead ECG machines and treated by clot busting drugs (thrombolysis) or by the insertion of a wire into the artery to open it by using a balloon to allow the blood to flow to the heart muscle again. This is known as a primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and can only be done in a hospital equipped with an emergency catheter laboratory. Ambulances are equipped and paramedics trained to recognize a major heart attack and to transport these patients to a primary PCI centre hospital. PPCI services went live in Galway on October 1st and it is anticipated that Limerick will become a 24 hour centre for these patients within the next few weeks as the programme is rolled out throughout the country following an inspection by the national clinical ACS Programme Lead.
International evidence has shown that PPCI is the most effective treatment for major heart attacks and most countries in the developed world have moved to this model of treatment. It is for this reason that we are striving to expand this service to the people of the Mid West. The number of patients requiring this service out of hours in the Mid West each year is approximately 58. Limerick has a 24/7 coronary care unit and both this and day cardiology services will shortly move to a new, state of the art critical care block.
It is important to note that a STEMI is not a case of cardiac arrest. Anyone suffering a cardiac arrest can be treated 24/7 in the Mid Western Regional Hospital.