About Irish Heart Foundation and Stroke

The Irish Heart Foundation has been working since 1966 to reduce premature death and disability from stroke and heart disease.

As the national charity for cardiovascular health, the Irish Heart Foundation understands that stroke has a devastating effect on people throughout Ireland.

National Audit of Stroke Care

In April 2008, the Irish Heart Foundation carried out the first National Audit on Stroke Care. This audit looked at what services were available for people who have strokes in Ireland.

The Audit found that many people were dying because they could not access vital stroke services. Its findings confirmed what many stroke patients and medical professionals knew already – that stroke services in Ireland are appalling.

Cardiovascular Health Policy

A group of experts called the Cardiovascular Health Policy Group, appointed by Health Minister Mary Harney, has developed a Cardiovascular Health Policy. This policy is long overdue, as it was supposed to be published in February 2009.

If implemented, this policy could change the experience of stroke patients for the better and could eliminate avoidable death and disability from stroke.

We are calling on the government to fully implement the Cardiovascular Health Policy.

IHF Stroke Council

The Stroke Council is an expert group that provides comprehensive advice and information to the Irish Heart Foundation on issues surrounding stroke.

Dr Angie Brown	Medical Director Irish Heart Foundation
Mr Michael O'Shea	Chief Executive Officer Irish Heart Foundation
Ms Cora Lavin	Irish Heart Foundation
Ms Tracy Egan	Irish Heart Foundation
Dr Frances Horgan (Chair)	Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, Royal College of Surgeons
Ms Helen Flynn	Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, UCD
Ms Margaret Cagney	Irish Association of Social Workers, St Vincent’s Hospital
Ms Wendy Moynan	Irish Association of Social Workers, AMNCH Tallaght
Mr Henry Gibbons	Irish Association of Social Workers, St James’ Hospital
Ms Michelle O'Keefe	Irish Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland, Connolly Memorial Hospital
Ms Libby Bailey	Irish Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland, Mater Hospital
Ms Ciara Breen	Irish Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland, Galway University Hospital
Ms Patricia Munnelly	Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, University College Hospital Galway
Ms Patricia O'Connor	Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, Sligo General Hospital
Ms Siobhan Healy	Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute, AMNCH Tallaght
Prof Des O'Neill	Irish Society for Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, AMNCH Tallaght
Dr Patricia McCormack	Irish Society for Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, Connolly Memorial Hospital
Dr Suzanne Timmons	Irish Society for Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, Mallow General Hospital
Dr Rachael Doyle	Irish Society for Physicians in Geriatric Medicine, St. Columcille’s Hospital
Dr Morgan Crowe	Association of Internal Medicine, St Vincents Hospital
Dr Joe Harbison (Secretary)	Association of Internal Medicine, St. James’ Hospital
Dr Sean Murphy	Association of Internal Medicine, Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar
Dr Bob McDonnell	Public Health Medicine, HSE Eastern Region
Dr Emer Shelley	Public Health Medicine, HSE Stewarts Sports Centre
Dr Mark Delargy (Vice-Chairman)	Irish Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr Jacinta Morgan	Irish Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr Aine Carroll	Irish Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr Dominick McCabe	Irish Consultant Neurologists Association, AMNCH Tallaght
Dr Joan Moroney	Irish Consultant Neurologists Association, Beaumont Hospital
Dr Peter Kelly (Treasurer)	Irish Consultant Neurologists Association, Mater University Hospital
Dr Simone Carton	Psychological Society of Ireland, National Rehabilitation Hospital
Dr Vincent Keaveney	Vascular Surgery, Room 21, Blackrock Clinic
Ms Breda Cleary	Institute of Public Health Nursing, Baggot St Hospital
Ms Elizabeth Doyle	Institute of Public Health Nursing, HSE Coolock Health Centre
Ms Ann Winters	Institute of Public Health Nursing, Baggot St Hospital
Ms Marion Greene	Institute of Public Health Nursing, HSE Community Care Area 2
Ms Mary Durkin	An Bord Altranais, Sligo General Hospital
Ms Imelda Noone	An Bord Altranais, St. Vincent’s Hospital
Ms Anne Copeland	Volunteer Stroke Scheme, Crumlin Rd, Dublin 12
Ms Ruth Maxwell	Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists,St. Vincent’s Hospital
Ms Aisling Creed	Irish Association of Speech and language Therapists, Baggot St Hospital
Ms Sinead Twomey	Irish Association of Speech and language Therapists, St. Joseph’s Hospital Clonmel
Dr Michael Boland	Irish College of General Practitioners, Irish College of General Practitioners
Dr John Buckley	Radiology, HSE South

For more information about the work of the Irish Heart Foundation see www.irishheart.ie .

Advocacy Team

advocacy@irishheart.ie

Irish Heart Foundation, 4 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Tel: 01 6685001