“We are well underway in Co Wexford to meeting the aim of ensuring that 80% of people living with chronic disease – be it respiratory, cardiovascular or diabetes – receive care in the community,” according to Wexford-based Integrated Cardiovascular Specialist Nurse Liz Murphy, speaking at a recent Open Day event celebrating a six-month milestone in the development of cardiac care services in the county.

Taking place, appropriately, on St Valentine’s Day, February 14th, the Open Day was hosted by the HSE Wexford Integrated Cardiology Service in the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre.

Addressing the gathering at the event, Liz explained that “with the support of the HSE, Wexford General Hospital, South East Community Healthcare and GP practices locally, the opening of the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre last year has seen the establishment of a Chronic Disease Management Hub here. With our colleagues in the Ireland East Hospital Group, South East Community Healthcare has been progressing a cardiovascular service for GPs and linking in the expertise of the cardiac care services based in Wexford General Hospital’s unit in Ely Hospital.”

She added that they were “delighted to welcome retired Consultant Physician Dr Paddy McKiernan to the Open Day. Dr McKiernan was instrumental in establishing the first cardiac care unit at Wexford General Hospital (WGH) 30 years ago in 1994. We are also delighted to be joined by John Quinn and Sean Lacey, who were active in the initial fundraising efforts for its development by the Friends of Wexford Cardiac Care Unit, and by former Director of Nursing in WGH Margaret Curran who managed the unit.”

Liz also noted the presence at the event of Patricia Hackett, Operations Manager Clinical Services, Wexford General Hospital, whom she acknowledged was “here to demonstrate Wexford General Hospital’s commitment to the exciting developments in integrated care.”

The Open Day was an opportunity to showcase developments in community healthcare services locally, including the establishment of the Integrated Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme and the Lipid Clinic.

The event featured a display of items tracking the history of the development of cardiac care services in the county, including its latest phase in integrating with community healthcare services. This year was also just the third time in 80 years that St Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday coincided on the 14th of February. As it was National No Smoking Day, the HSE’s Quit team of Stop Smoking Advisors were also present on the day.  

The Integrated Cardiology service is a new HSE initiative, developed under the Sláintecare plan for Enhanced Community Care. Patients are referred by their GP or Practice Nurse to a service which includes a Consultant/Nurse Specialist led cardiology clinic and a newly launched Community Cardiac Rehabilitation programme. The Cardiac Rehabilitation programme, now operational in the Enniscorthy Primary Care Centre, is an expansion of the service originally established in Wexford General Hospital in the early 1990s.

These new services reflect the Sláintecare vision of providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time. Services are led by Dr Cyril James, Consultant Cardiologist, Integrated Care, Wexford General Hospital South East Community Healthcare, with additional clinical services provided by the overall team including Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physiotherapist and Clinical Psychologist.