Friends support new heart unit at Nenagh hospital
The Friends of Nenagh Hospital have provided an update about the latest project their charity has recently contributed to, using the generous public, private and anonymous donations they have received from various organisations, businesses and individuals over the past number of years.
All donations are added to a central fund. As part of our commitment to help finance the provision of cardiac services locally, funding was provided for a designated space for the Heart Failure Support Unit at Nenagh hospital. This financing was agreed by the Friends and the HSE in 2015 when the HSE first contacted us regarding the project.
There are over 90,000 people in Ireland who suffer from heart failure. Heart failure accounts for more than 7% of all hospital admissions. Heart failure affects about 20% of those over 80 years of age and causes very debilitating symptoms, such as breathlessness, fatigue and fluid retention. Over 50% of the admissions related to heart failure are avoidable, if recommended treatment is provided in time, and if specialist support is in place to facilitate early intervention when symptoms start to deteriorate.
Provision of the ‘Heart Failure Support Unit’ means that people from North Tipperary who have a diagnosis of heart failure will be able to avail of a disease management programme and specialist support in Nenagh. The service is led by Dr Syed F Abbas, Consultant Cardiologist, and two specialist heart failure nurses, Jacinta Glasgow and Kathryn O’Brien, while clerical support is provided by Agnes Carroll.
The Heart Failure Support Unit, we are delighted to inform you, will consist of two consultancy rooms, a reception area, an office, a bathroom and will be fully wheelchair-accessible.
The Friends of Nenagh Hospital committed €40,000 to help provide this much needed service at Nenagh hospital and the donations we received contributed to this sum.
Handover of the unit took place on Thursday last, February 18th, and it will be available for patient use from March 2021. On behalf of the Friends of Nenagh Hospital, Chairperson Declan McGee wanted to thank the people of Nenagh and North Tipperary and those further afield, for their generosity and assistance in helping us achieve our goal of funding this undertaking, and allowing our charity the opportunity to assist in bringing this essential cardiac service to our local hospital.