Heart attack patients hoping they get helicopter transport
Heart attack patients in the North West hope they get a helicopter to Galway as they fear they mightn’t make it there by ambulance according to Deputy Tony McLoughlin.
“Cardiovascular disease is the single largest cause of death in Ireland today and a fixed Cardio Cath Lab Service is vital for patients who suffer a cardiac arrest and their chances of survival.
“At present if someone has a cardiac arrest in Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal and parts of Cavan, Roscommon and Mayo today and they need urgent access to Primary PCI and other specialist cardio treatment within the recommended 90 mins time period, they will not be able to achieve this without the support of helicopter transport.”
“When people have to travel to Galway or Dublin for Primary PCI, not knowing if they will make it or not in the back of an ambulance, if they don’t get a helicopter, this is not acceptablein this day and age,” he said.
Deputy McLoughlin raised the urgent need for a fixed Cardio Cath Lab Service at Sligo University Hospital to serve the region with Minister for State at the Department of Health Marcella Corcoran- Kennedy.
He said a fixed Cardio Cath Lab Service was not operational anywhere in the North- West of Ireland.
“I showed the Minister the map of Ireland where these current services are. I showed her the figures on how it would actually save the State money, over € 3.5 Million over ten years.
“It makes clear sense to develop this much needed service at Sligo University Hospital and I wanted the Minister to bring this message back to the HSE.
“I think it is high time now we have this service delivered to the 250,000 people in the North- West region.
“We have seen promises in other parts of the country in relation to cathlabs, and second cath labs and what not. It is not acceptable for the people that I represent to be overlooked on this issue.
“There is a clear case of having the required population for the service to be viable here and it makes sense in terms of geography, medical need, but also in terms of finances.
“On this basis, I am calling on the HSE and the Minister for Health to ensure that this process is accelerated and that this service is delivered as quickly as possible to the people of the North- West,” said Deputy McLoughlin.