Poor access to care for non-Dublin heart patients

PATIENTS with heart conditions living outside Dublin have significantly less access to care, the Health Service Executive has found in a comprehensive health study.

With regard to treatment for stroke, just one out of 37 Irish hospitals (2.7%) has a fully resourced stroke unit, compared with 91% in British hospitals.

It has been estimated that between 350 and 500 lives could be saved annually if stroke units were introduced to Irish hospitals.