Friends of Sligo University Hospital Fundraising Drive for 2013/2014 Cardiac Services
The Friends of Sligo University Hospital is undertaking a major fundraising drive for 2013/2014 to raise funds towards vital cardiology equipment for the hospital.
Cardiovascular disease is the single largest cause of death in Ireland. In 2008, heart disease / diseases of the circulatory system accounted for more than one-third of all deaths and one in five premature deaths.
Hospital bed use is expected to increase further over the next decade as the number of people aged over 65 in Ireland is predicted to increase by 41%. Despite improvements, Ireland still ranks below the EU 15 average for life expectancy for both men and women. Raising funds for cardiac services will help improve patients’ chance of survival and avoid the need to travel outside the region for these vital services. We hope to raise more than €200,000 which will go towards funding for a Cardiac Catheter Laboratory/equipment in Sligo. Achievement of this objective will serve to consolidate the current cardiac services and to improve the cardiac services within the region. There is a crucial need for this additional funding to develop the service further in line with best practice.
Sligo University Hospital was the first hospital in Ireland to introduce the concept of a visiting Cardiac Catheter Lab in 2000, providing a diagnostic service for patients with suspected heart disease or heart attack (on a one day per week basis). A fixed Cath Lab (and staffing for this unit) is required in order to provide a state of the art service for heart attack patients/cardiac in the Northwest. We see the vision for the hospital as becoming a regional centre for the delivery of cardiac services which in turn would reduce the number of patients who are forced to travel outside the region for their investigations and treatment.
Fundraising events have been organised throughout the Sligo/Leitrim, South Donegal Region over the recent months including:- Sponsored Walks, 400 Charter Cycle, Runs, Ceili events and Sligo’s Got Heart Talent Shows throughout the region. Keep a close eye for up and coming events namely; An Post Cycle on May Bank Holiday Weekend (4th and 5th May 2013) – proceeds to Cardiac Services via Friends of SRH.