No cardiac unit has enough staff, study reveals

Not one cardiac unit in the country has enough staff to provide an aftercare service to those recovering from heart attacks that is credited with cutting death rates by up to 25%.

According to a study by the Irish Association of Cardiac Rehabilitation and the Irish Heart Foundation, the problem is forcing thousands of people onto six month-long waiting lists for post-attack aftercare.

Detailing the situation before Budget 2014 is published later today, the independent groups said none of the country’s 37 hospitals providing cardiac care have enough qualified staff to support patients recovering from heart attacks.

They said no facility has the required numbers to ensure a reasonable quality of “cardiac rehabilitation” — a vital medical service which shows people how to change their diet, physical activity, and other issues after suffering heart problems.

The post-attack care plan has been widely credited among cardiologists as helping to cut the chances of heart disease mortality by 25%.

However, hitting out at how the hidden impact of long-term cutbacks is hurting patient care, the study said no hospital in the country has enough staff to provide the support.

The major study found:

* Out of 37 hospitals providing cardiac services, 36 said they did not have the adequate amount of expertise to provide the support. One facility failed to respond;

* 27 cardiac rehabilitation units have no access to psychologists, considered vital to helping people adapt to a post-cardiac event;

* A further 29 have no medical social workers and 26 have no occupational therapist;

* In nine of the 36 hospitals that responded, cardiac rehabilitation nurses are regularly transferred to other wards to fill staff gaps;

* Despite the fact cardiac rehabilitation is believed to cut the risk of death among heart attack survivors by 25%, just seven out of the 36 units said most of their patients receive the support;

* 23 of the 36 units do not automatically refer patients to the aftercare plan, with 1,800 heart attack survivors facing waits of up to six months for the immediate post-attack help.

Dr Angie Brown, Irish Heart Foundation medical director, said the service gap should be of concern for the growing number of people with potentially fatal heart problems.

“Patients who have suffered from heart attacks are at a higher risk of having another event and we know cardiac rehab plays an essential role in overcoming fear while instilling confidence to take steps to prevent a recurrence.

“Cutbacks are threatening the future of many cardiac rehabilitation services.

“Reductions in cardiac rehabilitation programmes will impact on patients who have already been through very serious medical procedures.

“Our health services should be providing the resources to ensure these patients can return to their own lives with confidence, rather than continuing to rely on hospital services.”

* For further information, see www.irishheart.ie or call the Irish Heart Foundation’s help line on 1890 432787.