Croí, heart and stroke charity, celebrated a landmark moment in stroke recovery and rehabilitation with the official opening of the Joe & Helen O’Toole Community Stroke Hub at the Croí Heart and Stroke Centre in Newcastle, Galway. The transformative facility was officially opened by the Mayor of Galway, Peter Keane, marking a significant advancement in stroke care and support services in the West of Ireland.
Made possible by the extraordinary generosity of the Joe & Helen O’Toole Charitable Trust, Tuam, this state-of-the-art Stroke Hub will serve as a vital resource for individuals recovering from stroke, offering essential rehabilitation programmes, therapies, and carer support services. The hub, constructed by Carey Construction and designed by architects Simon J Kelly, will provide a dedicated space for Croí’s existing stroke recovery day programme, ensuring that stroke survivors and their families can access much-needed services in a supportive community setting.
Speaking at the opening, Croí Chairman, Mark Gantly, highlighted the significance of this new facility: “The Joe & Helen O’Toole Community Stroke Hub represents a major milestone in stroke recovery services in the West of Ireland. Stroke survivors and their families face an incredibly challenging journey, and this hub will provide them with the rehabilitation, support, and care they need to rebuild their lives. We are deeply grateful to the Joe & Helen O’Toole Charitable Trust, Tuam, for their vision and generosity in making this life-changing facility a reality.“
The Stroke Hub is the first of its kind in the West of Ireland, complementing Croí’s comprehensive range of services in stroke prevention, cardiovascular care, and disease management. The purpose-built facility is equipped with cutting-edge amenities and staffed by specialist healthcare professionals, ensuring that every person who walks through its doors receives the highest standard of care and support.
Mary Lardner of the Joe & Helen O’Toole Charitable Trust, Tuam, expressed her pride in continuing the O’Toole legacy: “Joe and Helen O’Toole were deeply committed to helping their community, and their legacy will now live on through this Stroke Hub. We are incredibly proud to see this facility open today, knowing that it will make a lasting impact on the lives of stroke survivors and their families. The Trust is grateful to Croí for the opportunity to continue Joe and Helen’s legacy of charitable giving and to positively impact the lives of those affected by stroke.“
Dr. Ruairi Waters, Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at Galway University Hospital and Board member of Croí, said, “The opening of the Joe & Helen O’Toole Community Stroke Hub is an important milestone in stroke prevention and recovery in the West of Ireland. It will provide a critical resource for patients and their families, empowering them to regain independence, improve their quality of life, and navigate the challenges of post-stroke recovery with confidence”.
With the doors now open, Croí looks forward to welcoming stroke survivors, their families, and carers, who will avail of the specialist rehabilitation and support services at the Joe & Helen O’Toole Community Stroke Hub. This facility will ensure that those affected by stroke have access to the resources they need for a better quality of life.
For more information about the Croí Stroke Hub and its services, please visit the website at www.croi.ie or call 091 544310.
