Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)

I complement the Independent Technical Group on bringing this topical issue to the House. It is too important a subject with which to play party politics. I fully endorse their concern about this life and death issue which calls at the doorstep of almost 10,000 people each year in our small country. This is a frightening statistic because as a result of its day-to-day extension to family members it impacts directly on multiples of 10,000 souls. As the motion indicates, when added to those sufferers at various stages of recovery in the community or in care facilities, the number affected possibly amounts to 50,000. Perhaps the greatest concern for those in this position is how they can access support to restore their lives to independent living.

I can talk about stroke with qualified experience. On a mild Friday evening in 2007 I knew someone very well who had such an experience. The CAT scan equipment and other diagnostic services were closed for the weekend in Waterford Regional Hospital. It was a time of abundance in the country. At the time, a five day week service was available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Therefore, the diagnostic process to determine whether it was a stroke had to be deferred until after that weekend. Thankfully, despite these circumstances, that person, who happens to be myself, recovered. I am grateful to the many dedicated people in care and medicine who made it possible for me to be here tonight. I take this opportunity to say that in my ignorance and before I had this episode, I thought that medicine was only about nurses and doctors but now I realise it extends to occupational therapists, speech therapy and all the rehabilitation people who look after a person when something like this occurs.

This experience has had a lasting imprint on my mind and I am more interested in gaining as much information as possible to pass on to others. It is a source of comfort to me that there is now a genuine national attempt being made to front-load investment in stroke prevention.

We must give hope to people in distress. I am often depressed by the scale of negativity I hear sometimes in our national Parliament. People, including the thousands of stroke sufferers, are keen to be assured that the vast amount of resources we put into health services will address their disability.

Stroke units are a key element in the provision of acute care and early rehabilitation. I am also delighted to learn that by the end of June 2012, almost 94% of stroke patients will have access to stroke unit care. In addition, we now have the comfort of knowing that ambulances are now operated by fully trained staff in the safe provision of thrombolyosis.

As with many aspects of health generally, prevention is the key to reducing the incidence of stroke. Although getting the prevention message is often criticised as a waste of money that should be spent on curing, I firmly believe that promoting awareness is money well spent. Like the proposers of the motion, I too would encourage the Department of Health's policy framework for a healthier Ireland as a commendable vehicle to inform the public on stroke prevention. The framework policy aims to address the broad determinants of health and health inequalities through our health services, community and education settings. The review will address a number of key lifestyle issues, including smoking, alcohol and obesity and suggest whether further action is required.

Despite significant tobacco control measures and the widespread knowledge of the harm caused by tobacco, smoking prevalence remains high. There is scope for further progress if we are to achieve modest reductions in smoking initiation. I am aware that one of the reasons for drawing up this motion was also to focus attention on the economic cost of stroke. The proposers are rightly concerned that resources saved sensibly in one part of the health services can be used elsewhere in the care system. I thank the Independent group for taking the trouble to place this motion before us and offer it my full support.

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