Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator and acknowledge his persistent advocacy in all health matters. I have come before him in this House many times. I join him in acknowledging and marking the fact that September is cardiovascular month. It is very important we continue to put a focus on that. I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly.

The national review of cardiac services was established to recommend the best service configuration, clinical governance and performance requirements for national cardiac services for the next ten to 15 years. The review is finalised and the Minister has reviewed it. He wants to secure funding for the strategy via the Estimates process and plans to bring the review to the Government for consideration. The former Chief Medical Officer advised that reform of cardiac services should extend beyond a hospital-based focus. Therefore, the next steps for implementing the review and developing a new cardiac strategy will be situated within a holistic context which reflects all aspects of cardiovascular disease, including prevention and rehabilitation. That is exactly what the Senator has spoken to as regards education, informing people about their cardiovascular health and a more holistic approach. We all know prevention is better than cure. The holistic reform approach includes integrating cardiac services to deliver a more comprehensive systems approach to cardiovascular health in meeting the needs of our population.

The review represents a significant and comprehensive piece of evidence-based work, resulting in a detailed report, and the recommendations of the review will inform the future provision of cardiac services nationally.It has taken some time for the review to reach this point however, considering the requirement for data and consultation to progress a major reform programme. This is understandable, and the results will be worth it.

In parallel, within a year, the HSE will be tasked with reform in several priority areas to address the immediate cardiac service needs of our population. These initial priorities will deliver results in the short term and will be developed in parallel with a longer-term implementation plan for the review’s recommendations when they are published. My understanding is that there are 23 recommendations.

Cardiovascular disease is multifaceted and incorporates a myriad of disease conditions which include, as the Senator has mentioned, transcatheter aortic valve implantation, TAVI, among other heart disease conditions and stroke. Plans to develop a new strategy will be informed by the review’s recommendations once published. This will include structural heart diseases. The implementation plan for the review’s recommendations will be the most appropriate way forward in progressing structural heart disease interventions such as TAVI. Operational leadership for Ireland’s complex cardiac services is provided by the HSE’s National Heart Programme. The National Heart Programme focuses on the design and delivery of the full spectrum of care for cardiovascular conditions. Underpinned by a whole-system approach, in line with Sláintecare, the National Heart Programme aims to improve population health, reduce health inequalities, improve patient outcomes and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in the population.

Beyond cardiac services, the Government is fully committed to supporting improvements and advances in other cardiovascular areas. The Minister has allocated a total of €7.3 million to fund the HSE National Stroke Strategy 2022-2027 over the last two budgets to support the development of stroke services. The overall aim of the strategy is to modernise and reform stroke services in line with Sláintecare policy and to help sustain and improve upon the significant achievements already made to date. I will come back to the Senator about screening in my closing comments.