asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the ever increasing incidence of heart disease affecting persons of all ages and all walks of life, he will request his Department to mount an intensive educational campaign to combat the frightening increase in the incidence of this disease.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heart Disease.
50.
Mr. Kitt
Education in the field of heart disease is at present mainly carried out by the Irish Heart Foundation with the assistance of the health boards. My Department have also co-operated with the foundation in the provision of literature and so on.
As I have already announced, I am in the process of setting up a Health Education Bureau. Such campaign as is envisaged by the Deputy will in future be undertaken by the bureau. I will draw the bureau's attention to the Deputy's suggestion.
Mr. Kitt
Might I ask the Parliamentary Secretary to bring to the attention of the Minister, and I have this on the authority of an eminent heart specialist, that 90 per cent of the patients never reach hospital? We all know the wonderful treatment they get when they get to the hospital but would he bring to the Minister's attention that it is four areas in particular—proper diet, exercise, tension and cigarette smoking—that according to the experts are the field in which this education is most needed?
I will do that gladly.