Too many people in Ireland are still not getting lifesaving heart attack care quickly enough with fewer than half calling for help within an hour of symptom onset. Delays cost heart muscle, quality of life, and lives.
The report highlights urgent priorities that Croí strongly support:
- A national public awareness campaign so more people recognise heart attack symptoms early
- Faster access to emergency cardiac care, including timely ambulance response and direct transfer to PCI centres
- Continued investment in 24/7 specialist heart services, including regional expansion
- Stronger prevention efforts, especially in tackling smoking, a major risk factor, linked to heart attacks happening over a decade earlier
Every minute matters in a heart attack. We need faster care, better awareness, stronger prevention, and equitable access to specialist cardiac services across Ireland.
Croí will continue advocating for the changes needed to ensure every person has the best chance of surviving and recovering from a heart attack.
Thank you to Croí patient advocate and HSVI member Paula Connor, for sharing your story to highlight the lived experience and patient perspective.
https://www.rte.ie/news/health/2026/0210/1557581-heart-attack-report/
https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22582927/