Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 July 2017
760. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when funding will be made available for equipment at a hospital (details supplied); if funding applications for same were made in each of the years 2014 to 2016; if funding was committed in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35302/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE and The Saolta University Health Group are working to resolve the equipment issues that have caused the suspension on Cardiology Rehabilitation services at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The Cardiology Rehab services provided at Letterkenny Hospital are aimed at optimising physical function in patients with cardiac disease or who have had recent cardiac surgeries. As part of the programme, patients attend rehabilitation sessions under the direct care of nursing staff and the supervision of a consultant cardiologist.
A critical element of this type of rehabilitative care is the gathering of telemetry data, which is gathered using monitors worn by the patients, while undertaking physical activity during their rehabilitation sessions.
The Saolta University Healthcare Group has advised that the Letterkenny Cardiac Rehab programme was suspended for the last few weeks on the advice of the Consultant Cardiologist for reasons of patient safety.
This was due to the technical malfunction of some of the telemetry monitors required to monitor patients during their rehab sessions, resulting from expected wear and tear on the units.
In light of critical need for the Cardiology Rehab Service in Donegal, the Saolta Group has advised the Department of Health that they have recently given Letterkenny Hospital go ahead to order suitable replacement telemetry devices.
It is expected that the Cardiology Rehab Service will return to a normal level of operation once the new equipment is in place. This will allow the service to continue supporting cardiac patients along their path to recovery.
The Saolta Group has confirmed that at no stage have these issues affected the monitoring of telemetry for cardiac patients in need of acute care. Telemetry services continue to be in place in Letterkenny Hospital for these critical patients.
On a national level, the importance of the continued provision of these services is recognised by the Department of Health and the HSE. To this end, the HSE is currently preparing a Self-Management Support Framework which will specifically target this issue throughout the country.
In response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have also asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
