The Heart Failure Patient Alliance, an initiative intended to improve the healthcare needs of people living with heart failure in Ireland as well as their carers, will be officially launched by GAA legend Pat Spillane in Dublin on 15
th April. The official Galway launch will take place on 16th April by Frank Fahy, Mayor of Galway City.
The Heart Failure Patient Alliance (HFPA) aims to represent Heart Failure Patients in Ireland. The Alliance is a joint initiative by heart failure charity, the Heartbeat Trust, and Croí, the heart and stroke charity. Together they intend to mobilise the patient voice to improve the healthcare needs of people living with heart failure as well as the needs of their carers.
The Heart Failure Patient Alliance will be officially launched on Friday 15th April, in the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan, Dublin at13:30 by Pat Spillane, sports pundit and former Gaelic footballer. A second meeting will take place in the Galway Bay Hotel on Saturday 16th April at 10:00. The launch meetings are free to attend and open to people living with heart failure, their family members or carers.
Speakers include heart failure specialist doctors, nurses and physiotherapists including Prof Ken McDonald, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Director of the Heartbeat Trust. Ciara Keane of the Heartbeat Trust and Neil Johnson of Croí, will discuss ‘The Patient Voice’, specifically looking at the ways in which the Heart Failure Alliance can help patients who are currently living with the disease.
Prof Ken McDonald, Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Director of The Heartbeat Trust, said; “The Heartbeat Trust is dedicated to supporting specialist clinical and research services in heart failure and heart failure prevention in Ireland. The Heartbeat Trust is now delighted to collaborate with Croí in the establishment of the Heart Failure Patient Alliance, the Alliance aims to empower patients living with this chronic condition.”
Neil Johnson, CEO, Croí said; “Croí are delighted to partner with the Heartbeat Trust in uniting the voice of those living with heart failure in Ireland. Heart Failure is a chronic condition, the prevalence of which is set to increase in the coming years. The burden of heart failure could be significantly reduced through earlier diagnosis and better access to diagnostics. The Heart Failure Patient Alliance aims to advocate for greater awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart failure and better care pathways so that people living with heart failure and their carers can enjoy a better quality of life.”
Pat Spillane, GAA legend, said; “Heart failure is one of the major health challenges to our society. The personal burden of heart failure can be significant to patients and their carers. The Heart Failure Patient Alliance will be an extremely important and valuable forum when it comes to raising awareness of the condition and providing support for those affected by it.”
Refreshments and education material will be provided for those in attendance. These meetings are organised by both the Heartbeat Trust and Croí and are supported by Novartis Ireland Ltd.
To book a place at the Dublin meeting contact the Heartbeat Trust on 083-4656098 or email info@heartbeat-trust.org by the8th of April. To book a place at the Galway meeting contact Tracy Hadnett, Croí on 091 5443100; email tracy.croi@hse.ie or book your place online at https://www.croi.ie/heartfailure