Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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In June this year I launched a new cardiovascular policy "Changing Cardiovascular Health: Cardiovascular Health Policy 2010 -2019". This policy establishes a framework for the prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, which will ensure an integrated and quality assured approach in their management, so as to reduce the burden of these conditions.

The Cardiovascular Policy Report proposes that stroke services be reconfigured on a network basis at hospital and emergency care level. Each network will provide specialist services by a blend of hospitals designated as (i) local/general and (ii) regional/comprehensive centres. Under the reconfigured hospital network system, stroke patients will be brought directly to the appropriate centre for initial treatment. An improved ambulance service will ensure that 80% of the population will be brought to the appropriate centre within the accepted critical timeframe.

In the context of the implementation of the Report, the HSE has appointed two lead clinicians to direct the implementation of the recommendations in so far as stroke is concerned. Funding will come from within current resources provided for in the HSE Service Plan. The HSE is currently identifying the hospitals and networks required to support the Policy. As of July this year, 15 hospitals reported having an acute stroke unit and one further hospital has opened a stroke unit since then. Some 16 hospitals reported delivering 24 hour thrombolysis.

I have noted the contents of the recent Irish Heart Foundation's report on the estimated cost of stroke in Ireland.