The West of Ireland has a unique profile and as such, has very special Cardiac needs. These are based on the following points:

♥ The geographical spread of the region is vast compared to other HSE areas. It is largely rural and includes 8 islands and as such, emergency access to cardiac treatment can sometimes be delayed.
♥ The Western seaboard population has grown by 7.4% in the past few years and this region accounts for almost a quarter of the country’s population.
♥ There are an increasing number of older people living in the West of Ireland (a population with a recognised higher prevalence of heart disease). The Central Statistics Office predict that the number of older persons aged 65 years and over will double in the next few years.
♥ Over 40% of the population are medical card holders (public patients) - thus giving a strong indicator of the heavy demands being made on the Public Health Service in this region.