Peter Burke
Ceist:227. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the status of his plans to further expand early supported discharge services for stroke patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6297/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 8 February 2017
Ceisteanna (227)
Freagraí scríofa
The most recent National Stroke Audit reported that patients who suffer a stroke in Ireland now have a better chance of surviving and with less disability; and that the health service has made significant cost savings in terms of saved bed days, people returning to work and reduced costs of residential care.
There are already 3 Early Supported Discharge (ESD) pilot sites for stroke at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and HSE North Dublin, Galway University Hospitals and Tallaght Hospital. Good clinical outcomes and high patient and care satisfaction rates are reported across all three sites.
There is a business case available to the HSE for the expansion of the HSE’s National Stroke Programme and the Irish Heart Foundation submitted a business case for the expansion of ESD services. Funding of such service developments are a function of the annual Estimates process; and it is in this context that the expansion concerned will be pursued this year.