A new video developed by the HSE aimed at increasing the number of patients participating in a Cardiac Rehabilitation programme in Cork and Kerry has been positively received locally.

Cardiac Rehabilitation has been shown to reduce hospital admissions, lower deaths from cardiovascular disease, reduce the risk of further cardiovascular events and improve quality of life. Despite its benefits, take-up internationally varies from only 20%-50%. The video sets out to explain what Cardiac Rehabilitation is and encourages take-up by addressing the hesitancy shown by some of those offered the course.

The video project was led by Valerie Collender and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Team at Westfield Integrated Care Centre, Ballincollig, Cork, in collaboration with Cardiac Rehabilitation staff in Cork and Kerry hospitals and integrated care hubs. Volunteer patients who recently graduated from the Ballincollig programme were very keen to take part and had great fun on the day.

According to Valerie, Cardiac Rehabilitation is an “integrated outpatient service, which aids recovery from cardiac events including heart attacks, coronary artery stent placement, and bypass surgery. Programmes typically offer exercise, education, risk factor management and psychological support as core components. Multidisciplinary staff working in Cardiac Rehabilitation vary from centre to centre, but can include cardiologists, physiotherapists, nurses, cardiac physiologists, pharmacists, dieticians and administation staff.” 

A QR code that links to the video is now on all patient invitation letters at the integrated care centre, and it will be incorporated into future cardiac patient literature. Patients who are still in hospital after a cardiac event are encouraged to watch the video, in addition to the routine usual patient education resources.    

Watch a video about the cardiac rehabilitation programme in Cork and Kerry on YouTube.com