The Steering Group for the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services, under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan, is comprised of stakeholders representing medical staff, professional/technical staff, nurses and patients. The aim of the Review is to maximise patient outcomes at population level, with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive, by establishing the optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service.
The Covid-19 pandemic impacted on progress of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services during 2020 and into 2021. This was particularly so as the Chair of the Review Steering Group has played a key role in the national Covid response. as Chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group and as a Member of NPHET. However, the Review is now progressing, and the Steering Group has reconvened. The Group met most recently on 22nd November, and is scheduled to meet again in mid-December. It is necessary to complete the Review to inform decision making on investment in Specialist Cardiac Services in Ireland.
The Cardiac Catherisation Laboratory service in Sligo University Hospital is operating 1 to 2 days per week (mobile service) delivering diagnostic angiographies, with referral pathways to University Hospital Galway for PCIs and other specialist Cardiology interventions. Two permanent Consultant Cardiologist posts were advertised this year, one of which was filled.
A decision will not be made in relation to future Cath Lab Services until the outcome of the National Cardiology Review is known.
The table below detailing the number of patients treated at the Cath Lab in Sligo University Hospital from 2016 to date in 2021;
|
Year
|
OUT PT
|
IN PT
|
TOTAL
|
|
2016
|
210
|
120
|
430
|
|
2017
|
306
|
122
|
428
|
|
2018
|
330
|
132
|
462
|
|
2019
|
268
|
167
|
435
|
|
2020
|
184
|
105
|
289
|
|
2021
|
136
|
62
|
198
|
