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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 28 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 4

Written Answers. - Cardiac Services.

Donal Carey

Ceist:

37 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for Health and Children the current state of progress on the implementation of the cardiovascular strategy outlined in the report Building Healthier Hearts. [5496/01]

The report of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy Group – Building Healthier Hearts was launched in July 1999. It showed that our premature death rates from coronary heart disease for men and women are twice the EU average. The Department of Health and Children has set a medium term objective to bring our levels of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease in line with the EU average at a minimum and a long-term objective of reducing our rates to those of the best performers in the EU. Building Healthier Hearts, which contains 211 recommendations, is designed to achieve these goals in a systematic and sustained manner.

As a measure of the Government's commitment to the implementation of this report, structures were put in place at national, regional and local level to drive the implementation process. The structures take into account the need to sustain a co-ordinated programme and a high level of engagement over a long period. These structures include the establishment of a high level heart health task force, an expert advisory forum on cardiovascular health, and an inter-divisional working group within my Department. These structures have been further complemented by regional co-ordinating committees under each health board.

A sum of £12 million was provided to commence the implementation process in 2000. Each of the health boards received a financial allocation of £1 million, with the exception of the Eastern Regional Health Authority which received £3 million. The balance of £2 million was used to implement initiatives at a national level, mainly health promotion initiatives, cardiac technician training and the establishment of the Pre Hospital Care Council. At health board level, for 2000, most funding supported the recruitment of additional staff for community, hospital services as well as health promotion.

In 2001, an additional £15 million has been made available for the continued implementation of the strategy. I am confident that over the coming years the necessary funding will be provided to allow us to achieve our goals in implementing the various actions set out in the strategy.

During 2001, at national level the following initiatives are progressing: a pilot programme of managed care of patients with cardiovascular disease; a working group to develop a five year action plan for the orderly development of consultant posts has been established; my Department is in discussion with the Southern Health Board to finalise the detail of the pilot project for a coronary heart attack register – CHAIR project; the re-establishment of a national cardiac surgery register is being pursued; national health promotion campaign – Ireland needs a change of heart which this year will emphasise the positive aspects of physical activity; and other Departments and members of the heart health task force are reviewing the recommendations contained in the strategy and how they can be pursued.

For 2001 health boards are developing services along the following priority areas.

Structures and resources are being developed to support Ireland Needs a Change of Heart. Infrastructure for primary care is being put in place, including community dieticians and training for community based health professionals. The appointment of a co-ordinator of patient care is also being considered to support the implemen tation of protocols for patient care in the community and hospital settings. Priorities include that all ambulances be provided with automatic external defibrillators and the implementation of an information system and clinical audit programme. Resuscitation training officers will be recruited. Subject to the outcome of the working group on consultant posts, boards are to review facilities for assessing and treating patients with coronary heart disease. Health boards are developing services so that every hospital which treats patients with heart disease provides a cardiac rehabilitation service.
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