Paul Donnelly
Question:199. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if his Department will invest in practical, social and emotional supports in the community that reduce readmissions and improve quality of life. [33012/23]
View answerWednesday, 5 July 2023
Questions (199)
Written answers
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) which includes ‘heart conditions’ is an important public health issue. It has associated mortality and remains a major cause of chronic illness in Ireland as well as globally. Cardiovascular disease causes approximately 28% of deaths in Ireland and prevention is a significant part of the policy direction. The detection, prevention and management of cardiovascular disease is a priority.
Sláintecare, our national programme to transform health and social care services in Ireland, is driving new investments in CVD prevention and management for people who have suffered for example, a heart attack, atrial fibrillation, or who are living with heart failure.
In 2020, we began a structured programme of chronic disease prevention and management in primary care, targeting those at the greatest CVD risk. Chronic disease management aims to move from episodic reactive health care delivery to one that prevents the occurrence of disease and improves the quality of life of those who already have a chronic illness by averting or delaying further deterioration. It includes prevention, targeted case finding and ongoing management, helping us to catch CVD risk factors early, manage them effectively and slow or halt disease progression. For the many people now enrolled, their chronic diseases are now being better managed in primary care, improving quality of life and limiting the demands on hospitals.
Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010 -2019 highlighted the importance of cardiac rehabilitation post a cardiac event. Cardiac rehabilitation is a multifaceted programme and encompasses a psychological component. There are at least 36 centres providing cardiac rehabilitation services nationally. Cardiac rehabilitation is an internationally recognised standard of care for patients recovering from a cardiac event and is proven an essential component of secondary prevention for patients with heart disease. Recent Irish Heart Attack Audit data suggest a 71% referral rate to cardiac rehabilitation programmes post an event.
There has been significant investment in Integrated Care Programmes for Chronic Disease. This investment has enabled the development of structures of care which will significantly improve all aspects of heart care including speed of diagnosis, access to cardiac diagnostic and therapies.
There are clear, evidence-based guidelines and excellent case studies of effective models of heart care however, recognising the importance of preventing unnecessary hospitalisations and deaths and maximising people’s quality of life is the priority. Progress has been made and to inform the next steps for this important work and to understand the challenges more, a National Review of our adult Specialist Cardiac Services was commissioned. The Report is now finalised and is being prepared currently for my consideration. The Reviews recommendations will inform the future provision of cardiac services nationally.