Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Timmins for raising this important matter. The national clinical programme for acute coronary syndrome aims to increase the percentage of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, STEMI, patients who get PPCIs by ensuring that patients are being taken to the right place, their treatment is standardised and processes are in place to ensure prompt investigation of all acute coronary syndrome patients. Under this programme, St. Vincent's University Hospital, St. James's Hospital and the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital operate as designated PPCI centres for the greater Dublin area on a 24-hour, seven-day per week basis.

The HSE has advised the Department that, unfortunately, a premature decision was taken last week to withdraw St. Vincent's University Hospital as a 24-7 PPCI centre without the normal notifications to relevant stakeholders. This resulted in a temporary suspension over last weekend of ambulance transfers to St. Vincent's for patients suspected of having STEMI. From 4 p.m. last Friday until 8 a.m. on yesterday, ambulances were instructed to take confirmed STEMI patients in the greater Dublin area to either of the other two 24-7 PPCI centres - St. James's Hospital and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital. The HSE has confirmed that three patients suspected of having STEMI who would have been brought by ambulance to St. Vincent's over the weekend and Monday were transported by ambulance to St. James's Hospital for appropriate treatment. All patients who presented directly to St. Vincent's with suspected STEMI were able to avail of PPCI in St. Vincent's 24-7, if deemed clinically necessary. I am happy to report that St. Vincent's resumed its 24-7 PPCI service at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, 11 November.

A redesign of the PPCI programme, particularly the out-of-hours service, is under way within the HSE. The HSE acute hospitals division, in collaboration with the acute coronary syndrome programme and the National Ambulance Service, will enter into discussions with all Dublin hospitals currently delivering PPCI with a view to devising the most effective and sustainable model of care for PPCI in the region.

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