Ms Esther O'Shea:

As a heart patient myself, I echo what Senator Kyne said. We are very little known about in today's society. We heard earlier about psychological supports for stroke victims. Psychological supports are required for all heart patients, irrespective of their condition. There is a huge gap in respect of all heart disease patients. At 34, I was diagnosed with heart failure. We are talking about preventive measures today but I am not a typical heart failure patient. I was fit and healthy, not obese, did not smoke and played sport all my life. I was not among the 80% whose cases could have been prevented. I am living with an inherited heart condition. We need to discuss those people born with congenital heart defects. They comprise a large proportion of our society who are lost and forgotten about. They come up through paediatric care and move into adult services, where they are in limbo. The services of cardiovascular patients, whether they have had a stroke, heart failure or atrial fibrillation, can all be shared. I am referring to moving from paediatrics to adult care.

The Senator mentioned the heart failure registry. There is not one source of heart failure patients online. My file in Cork is a paper file. At the time of the Covid vaccine, a cohort of young people living with heart failure was forgotten about. When people asked who they were, nobody knew. Every hospital had its database, but there was no joined-up thinking. There was not a single database. If the HSE and Department of Health knew the volume of people and could assess their needs, they would see that many of those needs could be dealt with together and that the gap could be closed together. However, we have to identify the patients and then assess their needs. Then, together, we can have a conversation about psychological and financial supports and benefits, and about bringing people back into the workforce.

It is very important to mention preventive care. People who have an MI and are rushed to hospital do not know their disease may be inherited. They do not know their family legacy and are not aware of it. They are treated in acute services with a stent or whatever procedure is required and then go home. It is asked whether they smoke or are obese. Preventive measures must also include those with a family history of heart issues. Better genetic testing services are needed, and better screening is needed for families with a history. The population has grown phenomenally in recent years. With that, a large number of people are going to hospital with unknown cardiac issues. We need to address and support them, when they are in hospital and more so when they come out. The heart registry is one of the main sources by which we can do this. We can contact those concerned, collaborate and share resources to meet their needs.