Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death

It is estimated that over 5,000 people die of sudden cardiac death in Ireland each year. Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as death due to natural causes within an hour of the onset of symptoms, in the absence of any other cause, and assumed to have a cardiac cause. The majority of SCDs occur from late middle age onwards as a result of coronary heart disease. A minority of deaths occur in people under 40 years.

Survival rates following a cardiac arrest at any age are directly related to time to resuscitation and particularly defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been proven to be of extreme benefit in increasing the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs strategically placed throughout the community and in priority facilities, such as GP practices, sports clubs, airports and shopping centres, along with people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use can greatly increase the time to response to a sudden collapse.

The Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) Task Force Report was launched by Mary Harney TD, Tanaiste and Minister for Health and Children, in March 2006 and the HSE was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the 75 wide ranging recommendations. The HSE has ensured priority is given to its implementation by positioning it in the national service plan (NSP) and by establishing an SCD Implementation Steering Group, chaired by Dr. Siobhan Jennings, Population Health. The membership is made up of key people from Health service Executive (HSE), Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) and Pre-Hospital Emergency Council (PHECC) as well as a dedicated project manager and some ring-fenced resources have been allocated.

Key changes across many agencies:

First responder guide - This guide has been prepared to give information and advice for those planning to set up first responder programmes
Co-ordinators and resuscitation training personnel - 11 new HSE positions to assist in the development of priority first responder programmes (1 national pre-hospital first responder coordinator, 4 HSE area pre-hospital first responder coordinators, 6 pre-hospital resuscitation training officers)
Funding of the MERIT project - (HSE, PHECC) targeting training in immediate response to cardiac and trauma events for GPs and practice nurses in conjunction with ambulance personnel. Programme through UCD Dept of General Practice. To date over 300 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been supplied to attending GPs.
Initiation of uniformed First Responder pilot projects such as Gardai in Kilkenny and Blanchardstown, Fire service in Sligo.
Education and training standards across six levels of response from cardiac first responder to Advanced Paramedic. These standards developed by PHECC with progressive implementation 2007 to 2010
Development of Cardiac First Response Report (CFRR) by PHECC for documenting out of hospital cardiac arrests in conjunction with the establishment of an out of hospital cardiac arrest register
Spatial analysis research by PHECC using HSE ambulance response time data to analyse demand and guide deployment of ambulance resources to minimize response times and maximize response effectiveness (completed in North West)
Agreed national signage for AEDs
Study of post mortem data (2005) for cause of SCDs in Ireland under 35 years of age and other analyses of Central Statistics Office (CSO) data
Establishment of two SCD family screening clinics through voluntary funding: Family Heart Screening Clinic, Mater Heart House Dublin – launched February 2007; and Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Tallaght / St James’s Hospitals – launched June 2007.
National Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Register funded by PHECC using PHECC CFFR in association with NUI Galway.