Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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328. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to increase the number of stroke units; if so, the amount by which funding will be increased; the locations in which funding will be made available in the HSE service plan for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51543/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Access to stroke unit care has been shown to improve stroke patient outcomes through reduced mortality rates, reduced dependency and shorter lengths of stay in hospital by patients. While the first national stroke care audit report in 2001 reported one stroke unit in the country, since the commencement of the National Clinical Programme for Stroke (NCPS), nine new stroke units have been opened, bringing the total number of stroke units in acute hospitals to twenty-two. Two further stroke units are currently in development with a third at planning stages. It was recommended in the National Stroke Programme Model of Care 2012 that all hospitals admitting stroke patients should have a Stroke Unit large enough to accommodate all stroke patients.

In 2016 the National Stroke Programme published an Irish Heart Foundation/HSE National Stroke Audit of Stroke Rehabilitation Units, available at

. It found that the care of people with stroke in Ireland has improved since the National Clinical Programme for Stroke (NCPS) was established in 2009-2010. Because of this stroke deaths in Ireland have reduced by more than 15%.

The HSE is currently in the process of preparing its 2018 National Service Plan and discussions are continuing with my Department. The timeframes for submission of the HSE Service Plan for approval are set down in legislation and on receipt of the letter of determination, the HSE has 21 days to prepare and submit its Service Plan for 2018 for my approval. Following this, the National Service Plan will be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and then published at the earliest possible time.