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 launched at the Galway Bay Hotel on 16th April at 10am by Frank Fahy, Mayor of Galway City.
The Heart Failure Patient Alliance aims to represent the voice of Heart Failure Patients in Ireland. The Alliance is a joint initiative by heart failure charity, the Heartbeat Trust, and Croí. Together we 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 launched in the Galway Bay Hotel on Saturday 16th April at 10.00am by Frank Fahy, Mayor of Galway City. The launch meeting is 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 and Dr. Pat Nash, Consultant Cardiologist at Galway University Hospital. 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 commented “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.”
Frank Fahy, Mayor of Galway City, said “There is a lack of awareness surrounding the causes, signs and symptoms of heart failure among the general public. I’m delighted to support the Heart Failure Patient Alliance which will be a vital resource in raising awareness and understanding of this condition and in supporting those affected by it.”
Refreshments and education material will be provided for those in attendance. The meeting is organised by both the Heartbeat Trust and Croí and is supported by Novartis Ireland Ltd.