Written Answers. - Cardiac Services.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:
114
Mr. Deenihan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the high rates of cardiac illness in County Kerry; the steps he proposes to take to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[17655/03]
The cardiovascular health strategy, Building Healthier Hearts, published in July 1999, identified cardiovascular disease as the number one cause of death in Ireland today. The Southern Health Board's regional cardiovascular health strategy, 5 Year Action Plan, June 2000, also identified cardiovascular disease as the number one cause of death in the region accounting for 46% of all deaths in Cork and Kerry. Since 1989, Cork and Kerry have consistently higher standardised mortality ratios, SMRs, for cardiovascular disease than the national average. Kerry has a higher SMR than Cork. Under the cardiovascular health strategy, investment in the development of cardiology services has taken place in all service areas right across the region in both Cork and Kerry.
In line with priorities identified in the Southern Health Board's regional cardiovascular health strategy, 5 Year Action Plan, June 2000, Tralee General Hospital has received €503,778 over the first four years of the strategy to develop cardiology related services in the hospital. This has resulted in the appointment/approval to recruit 12.5 staff for the hospital under the strategy, including four coronary care unit nurses, one occupational therapist, two student cardiac technicians, one cardiac rehabilitation sister, one cardiac rehabilitation nurse, one dietician, one resuscitation officer, 0.5 physiotherapist and administrative support.
The strengthening of the infrastructure in the hospital has enabled Tralee General Hospital to develop a cardiac rehabilitation service, a cardiac non-invasive diagnostic service, extend its telemetry service in CCU, extend its resuscitation-training programme and provide for ongoing staff training. It has also ensured that essential cardiac equipment was procured for the cardiology services at the hospital.
The interim report of the joint working group on cardiology manpower recommended the appointment of a consultant cardiologist at Tralee General Hospital as one of three priority appointments for the Southern Health Board. With the allocation of €1.330 million to the Southern Health Board this year, under the cardiovascular health strategy, the board plans to appoint two additional consultant cardiologists, one each at Cork University Hospital and the Mercy Hospital. The Southern Health Board plans to proceed with the consultant cardiology appointment at Tralee General Hospital from additional funding from the cardiovascular health strategy in the future.
In addition to hospital based services, the Dingle peninsula was the first area to pilot the general practice first responder scheme, the purpose of which is to equip rural practices/communities to respond quickly to an acute cardiac event by providing defibrillator equipment to general practices and CPR training to GPs, local community hospital staff and the local community.
Through funding allocated under the cardiovascular health strategy, the health promotion services in Kerry have appointed health promotion officers and dieticians to provide lifestyle information in the areas of anti-smoking, physical activity and nutrition in schools, community and workplace settings.
