Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. It is estimated that there are 137,000 people in this country living with heart failure. Last week, a cross-party delegation of Senators and Deputies met a group from the Irish Heart Foundation to hear about this condition. The group is calling for greater access to cardiac rehabilitation, psychological support and help to ease the financial hardship caused by this condition.

I thank the two patient champions, as they are known, who spoke at the meeting, namely, Teresa O'Hanlon, who hails from Monaghan and whom I know personally, and Stephen Comerford. I salute them on their efforts, not alone in living with the condition but also in trying to champion the cause of the 137,000 people who live with the condition. I also salute the professionals who attended the meeting.

We know much more about this rapidly growing condition. Heart failure is a chronic disease that occurs when the heart muscle does not pump blood as well as it should. We also know of the disabilities and challenges faced by people living with heart failure in Ireland. The Irish Heart Foundation told us that it is estimated that 30% of heart failure patients are back in hospital within 90 days of discharge and that half of all admissions are due to poor self-care and are, therefore, largely preventable.

It is clear that heart failure patients need more help to address the psychological impact of their condition and the financial hardship that flows from that and to gain greater access to rehabilitation services. This includes incentives like direct access to diagnostics for GPs, integrated care programmes and multidisciplinary support teams in community settings. Allowing GPs to directly refer patients for heart failure diagnostics in community settings, rather than requiring hospital visits for routine checks, can reduce travel time and the associated costs for patients. Community-based services and investment in primary care centres with multidisciplinary teams can improve access and ease pressure on hospitals. Targeted financial aid can help people manage costs associated with medications, transportation and other related expenses. Leverage in digital solutions can improve patient outcomes and quality of life, and self-management and support can empower people to take more control of their health. An integrated approach to heart failure care, which implements these measures, could significantly improve the lives of people living with heart failure and enable them to maintain a better quality of life.As can be clearly seen, this is a condition that is, unfortunately, growing and needs more attention than is currently being given to it by the Department of Health. For the sake of the people suffering from this condition, I hope we can hear some positive news as to what Government will do to address the many physical, psychological and financial challenges these people have to go through daily.