Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher Leas Cheann Comhairle raised the issue of the closure of the Telemetry Clinic and the Cardiology Rehab Unit in Letterkenny by way of special motion debate in the Dáil.
He said the matter was brought into the house as a Topical motion in an attempt to get the HSE, Department of Health and the Minister for Health to deal with the matter as a priority.
He added “The current situation is unbelievable with no Cardiac Rehab services available to outpatients since May of this year, and a reduced service available only to those who remain as inpatients.
“The Donegal patients are being offer a sub-standard service and one which would not be tolerated anywhere else.”
Pat the Cope in his Dáil debate highlighted the great work that was being carried out in the Cardiac Rehab Unit even with the reduced staff numbers since 2011, and the removal of the community cardiac rehab service in 2010 which covered the towns of Dungloe and Ballyliffen.
“The current crises has existed since the 31st May when the Telemetry monitoring equipment broke down. Since then all outpatients services have been suspended and with an ever growing waiting list for Cardiac rehab the situation has greatly worsened.
“The Irish Cardiac Rehab Guideline state that following heart procedures, operations or a heart attack that Cardiac Rehab must be made available on at least twice a week basis in order to underpin a full and lasting recovery.
“It is medically proven that those who avail of cardiac rehab have a 30% less likely chance of being readmitted with cardio trouble in subsequent years. Prior to the monitor breaking over 40 patients were being seen on a weekly basis by the rehab unit and the true scandal in relation to this service being suspended is that a budget of circa €50,000 was all that was required to solve the problem. It took 6 weeks and one Dáil motion in order to obtain that approval.”
Pat the Cope added that with over one third of all deaths in Ireland being cardio vascular related it is imperative that the HSE, Department of Health and the Minister for Health continue to invest in Cardiac Rehab services.
“The approval which I have secured today for the reinstatement of the telemetry monitor is only the first step – I am now calling on the Minister to reinstate the staffing levels to its full complement , and that the required service levels of rehabilitation as per the Irish Association of Cardiac Rehab give afforded to every patient using the unit in Letterkenny and that community cardiac services be restored as a priority.
“I expect that the HSE will now give the necessary supports and funding for this most critical service at Letterkenny University Hospital so that the people of Donegal are no longer disadvantaged due to their location,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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