A survey of the provision of cardiac rehabilitation in the Republic of Ireland

‘Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) should be an integral part of the long-term comprehensive care of all cardiac patients’ (WHO 1993). This study was undertaken to ascertain the current provision of CR to post-myocardial infarction patients in the Republic of Ireland (ROI). A mailed questionnaire was sent to the physiotherapist in charge in the 47 general hospitals in the ROI. A response rate of 100% was achieved. The results indicated that CR is currently provided in ten hospitals, that five hospitals have plans to set up a service within the next year and that 27 hospitals have an interest in developing a programme. There is a serious under provision of CR services in the ROI, where the estimated number of patients being rehabilitated annually is 821. Services provided in the already established programmes, however, appear to be of a high quality.