A number of Mayo Oireachtas members participated in public health support at the inaugural Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group meeting on heart failure at Leinster House this week.
Deputies Dara Calleary, Alan Dillon and Senator Mark Duffy are backing a call for the estimated 3,700 people living with heart failure in Mayo to receive greater access to cardiac rehabilitation, psychological support and help to ease financial hardship caused by the condition.
Members of the group, set up by the Irish Heart Foundation, heard from Patient Champions and heart failure patients.
They spoke about Ireland’s rapidly growing cardiac condition, a chronic disease that occurs when the heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should, and the disabilities and challenges faced by the estimated 137,000 people living with heart failure in Ireland.
“The HSE has estimated that 30 per cent of heart failure patients are back in hospital within 90 days of discharge,” according to Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation.
“Half of all admissions are due to poor self-care and are therefore largely preventable.
“The purpose of this new group is to ensure that services and supports for people affected by cardiovascular disease are prioritised in Mayo and across the country.”
