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22 Oct 2025
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22 Oct 2025
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Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy with the charity.
Leitrim TDs Eamon Scanlon and Martin Kenny have joined forces to advocate for a new national policy to address cardiovascular disease (CVD), Ireland’s biggest killer. Together, they are supporting calls for better care for heart disease and stroke patients in their constituency, where 4,000 people live with CVD.
Every year, CVD claims 10,000 lives in Ireland, making up nearly 30% of all deaths. Despite this, Ireland has lacked a national CVD policy for over five years. This gap in care has left many patients without the support they need, while the number of CVD patients continues to rise.
The Oireachtas Heart and Stroke group, supported by the Irish Heart Foundation, has been established to raise awareness and advocate for a comprehensive policy that would prevent unnecessary deaths and disabilities. Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation, emphasized the urgent need for change, saying, “The absence of a national CVD policy is preventing the development of lifesaving services, leading to preventable death and disability.”
Ireland currently has the lowest number of cardiologists per capita in the EU, and there is a critical need for investment in cardiac imaging and rehabilitation programs. For many patients, access to proper care after being discharged from the hospital is insufficient, and they are left to cope with the high costs of managing their condition without the support of psychological services.
The Irish Heart Foundation is also calling for increased awareness and control of high blood pressure, a full implementation of the National Stroke Strategy, and greater investment in cardiac rehabilitation, which could reduce deaths from heart disease by at least 20%.
With the backing of TDs like Scanlon and Kenny, the Irish Heart Foundation is hopeful for the future. They believe that, with political support, CVD can finally become a national health priority, saving countless lives and improving the quality of life for many.
TDs and Senators interested in joining the cause can contact Pauline O’Shea at poshea@irishheart.ie.
READ MORE Leitrim groups get €13,350 to boost older people's physical activity
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