Centre is investment in preventative medicine says Councillor

Claims that the future of a centre offering health screening to people across the country with risk factors for sudden cardiac death is uncertain because of a lack of government funding should be investigated according to local councilor, Robbie Gallagher.
The Centre of Cardiac Risk in Young Persons, based at Dublin’s Tallaght Hospital, has provided free screening to more than 3,500 individuals since it was set up in 2007.
Some 10 per cent of those screened to date have been found to have heart problems, which would otherwise have gone undetected. Many of the people seen in the centre are referred there because of a family history of heart disease.

Cllr Gallagher, whose own immediate family has been affected by sudden cardiac death syndrome says that the centre offers screening to the families of young people who have died of the syndrome, something that became more widely publicized since the death of Tyrone footballer Cormac McAnallen in 2004.
“While screening is offered to those aged one to 74 years, most of the centre’s patients are aged 14-35 years. In the last year, three patients have had internal defibrillators fitted to shock the heart back into action should it stop. About 1,300 patients have been screened each year but the centre would like to screen 3,000 people a year, according to its latest annual report. The average cost of screening is €189. This is an important investment in the health of many families and will save money in the long run through preventative action,” explained Cllr Gallagher.

All of the equipment and most of the salaries of staff at the centre are dependant on charitable donations. With charities finding it difficult to raise money in the recession, and State funds in short supply, its future looks uncertain. “To continue the service at the current level, the centre will require an annual fundraising total of €250,000. To allow expansion of the service in line with demand, and to provide a de facto national service for inherited cardiac diseases a total of €1.56 million will be needed over the next three years.”
A report will be presented to Health Minister James Reilly in the hope that he will provide some funding to secure its future.
The Tallaght centre would also like to conduct a study to assess the prevalence of inherited cardiac disease in Ireland, and to assess the effectiveness of a pilot population screening programme.