Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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983. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to address an issue (details supplied); if he will ensure appropriate access to this essential service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35999/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Based upon this country's population, only a limited number of primary PCI centres can be operated in order to ensure that the services provided achieve the required standards. Where primary PCI cannot be delivered within an acceptable timeframe, thrombolysis is recommended with early transfer to a primary PCI centre for angiography.

As Minister for Health, my aim is to ensure that as many patients as possible have access on a 24/7 basis to safe and sustainable emergency interventions following a heart attack and, accordingly, I have asked my Department to commence preparatory work on a national review of all primary PCI services.

This review, which will be undertaken based on independent clinical expertise, will examine the issue and make recommendations regarding the future configuration of Primary PCI services, including number and location of centres required to serve our population needs. The review will devise a plan for the achievement of the best patient outcomes possible, reflecting patient safety as paramount. The guiding principle for the review will be to strive to provide a primary PCI service that can deliver clinical outcomes on par with international standards.