Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)

I welcome the motion from Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan and the Technical Group. It is important that we are in the national Parliament discussing this matter. As previous speakers have remarked, stroke affects 10,000 people nationally on an annual basis. It also affects their families and the health care professionals who care for them. A vast number of people are affected by stroke every year in Ireland.

It is fitting that we are discussing this important health issue in a constructive and collective manner. I hope we will see more of this in the House in future. It is important to have a positive, collective attitude on this issue. Since 10,000 people suffer from stroke annually many people in our community, including myself, have had personal experience of the issue. Some years ago at the age of 61 my father, who was fit and active, suffered a near-fatal stroke. The effects are devastating on the individuals and on the associated family and friends. It is a terrible thing to happen to anyone.

What takes place in the immediate aftermath of the onset of stroke is crucial. This is why I agree entirely with what my colleague, Deputy Harrington, said in respect of the importance of access to emergency care. Thrombolysis and clot-busting medicine are important and prevent damage from becoming permanent. We must ensure that everyone in the State who suffers from a stroke has the opportunity to avail of thrombolysis where it is deemed to be suitable for a patient within the window in which it would be effective.

I refer to the work of Dr. Richard Liston and his colleagues at Kerry General Hospital in my constituency. They have worked to develop a dedicated stroke unit at the facility. I understand work is well under way and I hope significant progress will be made in 2012. Deputy Tom Fleming in the benches opposite has raised this matter over the years at council level and in the Dáil. Many other public representatives have raised this matter and that should be acknowledged. This is an important issue. I wish Dr. Liston and his staff and Michael Fitzgerald of the HSE in Kerry the best in bringing the facility to the fore and ensuring the facility is available for all stroke victims.

We must do what we can to focus on prevention. Other speakers have referred to preventative methods as well. There would be a considerable financial saving to the State if we reduced the levels of stroke. The savings in human terms would be considerable as well. We need to promote healthier lifestyle and living. We need better public information about the risks associated with stroke. We must try to develop a method of identifying high-risk patients in the primary care area and dealing with them before they suffer a stroke. This should be done in every general practitioner's office throughout the country. This would have many positive benefits.

I welcome the public awareness campaigns aimed at helping people to identify the signs of stroke. Once a stroke is coming on a person it is important that the people around that person know what is happening and know what to do. Education is important.

We must be mindful of victims of stroke who may have difficulties with mobility or speech and other difficulties. There should be education and an understanding among the public. One person who suffered a stroke some years ago spoke to me about his speech difficulties. He finds making telephone calls a nightmare. Once, he was accused of being drunk on the telephone when he was making an everyday telephone call, the type we all take for granted. There should be public information efforts on this front to inform people that stroke is a part of everyday life for thousands of people throughout Ireland and we must remain conscious of that.

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