Will the Leader raise with the Minister for Health and Children the audit of stroke care services commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation, the results of which have been published and reported on in this morning’s newspapers?  The findings are very worrying.  There are between 350 and 500 deaths each year due to strokes.  Some 10,000 people present in hospital with the primary diagnosis of stroke.  However, there is a lack of a comprehensive system to manage strokes.  There are huge deficits in the stroke care provided to people.   In the hours immediately after a stroke has occurred, it would appear brain scans, CAT scans and clot busting therapy, which are an essential part of stroke care, are not available in our hospitals.  As another speaker mentioned, there is only one stroke unit in the MaterHospital.  There are only 12 protected beds for stroke patients.  Unfortunately, people are suffering from strokes at a younger age and it would appear the community and rehabilitation services are not available, especially for people under 65 years who suffer from strokes.  Today’s findings are salient to us all and I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to address this issue and outline what her Department intends to do in response to the findings.   

Filed under:
Health and Children, Order of Business, Seanad Speeches by Deirdre