Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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802. To ask the Minister for Health the criteria used to deliver funding to support 13 permanent cardiac rehab posts to integrated health authority regions (IHA) 1 and 2 (Galway, Mayo, Roscommon); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35844/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is considered a valuable component of secondary prevention for patients with heart disease due to the rigorous and extensive evidence base supporting its effectiveness. The importance of cardiac rehabilitation was highlighted in Changing Cardiovascular Health 2010 -2019 and is also considered in the recently published National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services.

The Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation, launched in October 2023, ensures that patients living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have equitable and timely access to high quality CR care, no matter where they live. For people who have been hospitalised with CVD, prevention of repeat events and hospitalisations is important. The CR model of care recognises that to optimise outcomes for patients eligible for CR, consideration must be given to maximising recruitment and retention of such patients therefore, offering increased flexibility in how people can participate in CR is key in this regard.

Cardiovascular health is a major pillar of the health funding announced as part of Budget 2025. Budget 2025 included over €9 million in full-year costs to support important cardiovascular health initiatives, including €4m and 45 posts for cardiac services. This funding has enabled initial reform in cardiac services and supports the development of a new cardiovascular strategy in the longer term.

Specifically, the former Minister for Health requested that a population health lens be placed on cardiac disease, as a key element of cardiovascular health to identify next steps to progress prevention and rehabilitation care through an integrated and regional basis. The specific short-term aim under this heading was to set out the relevant Cardiovascular programs and initiatives including the Enhanced Community Care Programme (ECC), Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme, and the Model of Care for Cardiac Rehabilitation. Opportunities for enhancement of existing community cardiac services were identified to drive integration.

To ensure continued alignment with the Integrated Care Programme for Chronic Disease it was advised to explore a pilot CR programme in 2025 and to develop implementation evidence to support ongoing reform in this important area which would be supported through the Budget 2025 allocation. 13 posts have been created in the North West region, which were identified to address the critical gaps in CR in two IHAs. These posts are currently in recruitment, with four posts having been appointed and accepted, as of mid-June 2024. The initial priority is to test the implementation of the Model of Care for Integrated Cardiac Rehabilitation in two IHA areas in HSE West and North West.

This pilot aims to demonstrate the impact of a Regional Integrated CR Service to deliver on timely, high quality, equitable, person-centred CR service, increase patient choice and access, deliver a standardised CR programme and support ongoing quality improvement. Under leadership of a regional governance group, waiting times, clinical and psychosocial impacts will be evaluated, and learnings will be used to support implementation in other RHAs.

The HSE have advised that there has been significant internal engagement between two IHA managers who are responsible and fully support the regional implementation of the Model of Care at operational level. HSE West and North West has substantial experience and clinical leadership in the delivery of integrated CR. Currently, the area delivers a regional integrated service under the leadership of Integrated Care Consultant Cardiologist, having a regional standard operating procedure in place and a shared database.

The end goal is to provide a fully connected, end-to-end cardiac rehabilitation pathway for patients across the region and to reduce waiting times for cardiac rehabilitation, improve patient access and experience and deliver better long-term health outcomes.