Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I worked for a period of time in care and medicine for the elderly and have a limited knowledge and a particular interest in stroke. The Deputy was in the Chamber for the previous discussion on heart failure which is another area in which we should do a lot more. We know that there are very cost effective interventions in the area of heart failure that we are not making at the moment but we simply cannot do everything. The same applies to stroke. There have been enormous improvements in stroke services in the last ten or 15 years and further development of those services would certainly be cost effective and not terribly expensive. However, the first priority must always be to maintain existing services and then with any additional funding available - which in any year and in any country, no matter how rich, is limited - one must prioritise those areas which will cost the least and be the most effective. We are very disappointed that we cannot proceed with a national roll-out of early supported discharge for stroke in 2016, which we would have loved to do. Unfortunately, it is not possible. However, it will be possible to ensure that stroke telemedicine is available and provided to all hospitals in the country, thus ensuring that we can maintain and improve on our thrombolysis and thrombectomy rates.

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