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Health Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022

Tuesday, 26 April 2022

Questions (1698, 1699, 1700)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1698. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the costs of ensuring equitable access to cardiac rehabilitation across all regions of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20679/22]

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Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1699. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the costs to develop phase four community based cardiac rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20680/22]

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Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1700. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on the waiting lists for cardiac rehabilitation in each hospital site providing the service; the funding that would be required to shorten the waiting lists following the impacts of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20681/22]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1698 to 1700, inclusive, together.

Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010 -2019 highlighted the importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation. 

Cardiac Rehabilitation is an internationally recognised standard of care for cardiac patients recovering from a cardiac event. Cardiac rehabilitation is considered an essential component of secondary prevention for patients with cardiovascular disease due to the rigorous and extensive evidence base supporting its clinical effectiveness and is of importance for patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is specifically tailored for those with established CVD, and patient outcomes are highly dependent on the quality of CR service delivered. Cardiac Rehabilitation is delivered through four phases, from the initial cardiac event in hospital to phase four in the community. The number of patients (5,063) accessing CR in 2019 increased by 25% from 2010.  There are also ever-increasing referrals of more complex, older and frail patients with multiple comorbidities to cardiac rehabilitation programmes which, while bringing additional challenges, can result in tremendous individual gains in health and wellbeing for those patients.

Recent Irish Heart Attack Audit data suggest a 71% referral rate to cardiac rehabilitation programmes.  There are at least 36 centres in Ireland providing cardiac rehabilitation services nationally. Recommendations from “Changing Cardiovascular Health National Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010 – 2019” recognised a need to establish or redirect services to address effectively the common rehabilitation goals of all cardiovascular patients. Increasing participation in chronic disease self-management programmes is central to Sláintecare.

The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives.

The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive, by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme and includes cardiac rehabilitation services in its work.

The Steering Group is currently working on the development of the proposed recommendations of the draft Report with the next meeting planned for May 2022 The implementation process for the National Cardiac Services Review is also being developed as part of the process to finalise the Report. Decisions on further service developments and any associated costs will await the final Report and recommendations of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services

Question No. 1699 answered with Question No. 1698.
Question No. 1700 answered with Question No. 1698.
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