Press Release 16th May, 2014

Happy Hearts celebrated at the Bon Secours Cork

with the “Healthy Hearts Reunion”

Staff and Patients celebrate 6th Anniversary of Cardiac Rehabilitation Programme

For Immediate Release

Approximately 10,000 people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD) - including coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and other circulatory diseases. CVD is the most common cause of death in Ireland. Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes like the 6 week outpatient programme at the Bon Secours Hospital restore the patient’s quality of life.

Last night over 140 cardiac patients gathered to celebrate the 6th anniversary of the Cardiac Programme with the “Healthy Hearts Reunion”. Through their participation in the outpatient programme they benefited from the tailor made patient recovery programme which monitors physical exercise and training, provides dietary advice as well as advice on lifestyle changes. Counselling and education support sessions are guided by doctors, nurses, nutritionists and physiotherapists who assist them in recovering from cardiac events and give “good help” (Bon Secours) on the road to recovery.

Also present on the night was Ivan McCarthy from Cork. Ivan was a fit healthy and active man who regularly played tennis and had climbed Mount Kilmanjaro to mark both his 60th birthday and his son’s 30th. A short time later, the week of his son’s wedding in Sicily, he was admitted to the Bon Secours hospital as a cardiac patient. Following a life saving procedure by Dr. Mahesh Pauriah, Consultant Cardiologist at the hospital he delivered his speech at his son’s wedding via a skype link provided in the Bon Secours to the wedding reception in Sicily. Soon after, he followed the cardiac programme and speaking from the heart he said “I was educated how to read my own body signs to continue a normal active life and the programme has given me my confidence back”.

Speakers on the night included Dr. John Kenny, Consultant Cardiologist, Bon Secours Hospital Cork; Professor John Horgan, RCSI and RCPI, founder of Cardiac Rehabilitation services in Ireland; Ms.Ann Riordan, Irish Heart Foundation speaking on “CPR saves Lives”and Ms. Aoife McMahon, Physiotherapist, Bon Secours.

Professor John Horgan spoke on the advancement of cardiac care and the value of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme. Ann Riordan emphasised how “CPR saves lives” and launched the Happy Heart Appeal at the Bon Secours. She said “In Cork alone heart disease accounts for one third of deaths with 1,078 families losing a loved one annually”. Aoife McMahon highlighted the key role of exercise post cardiac event and the importance of 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day to maintain a healthy heart.

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For further press enquiries and images contact:

Lisa Hunt

Bon Secours Hospital, Cork

Direct Line - 021 4801658

Email:

Notes

Bon Secours Hospital Cork is an acute general hospital with 345 beds providing a range of in patient and day case services to adults and children. The hospital employs 1,000 staff. The hospital has in excess of 70 consultants attending the hospital providing a broad range of clinical services and expertise.

Bons Secours Hospital Cork has a long tradition of cardiology services offering a comprehensive range of diagnostics (ECG, Echo, Stress testing) including a Rapid Access Chest Pain Clinic. The hospital recently opened a state of the art cardiac catherisation laboratory (cath lab) and 12 patient bay areas containing the most up-to-date diagnostic and interventional cardiology equipment. The 5 consultant cardiologists Drs. Will Fennell, John Kenny, Conor O’Shea, Mahesh Pauriah and Carl Vaughan are supported by a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of cardiac technicians and expert nursing staff.