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Charity Underscores Its Commitment To North West

Tuesday 28 February 2006

The people of the north west will have better access to the services offered by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke, as the charity opens new offices in the region

The people of the north west will have better access to the services offered by Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke, as the charity opens new offices in the region

The official opening was performed on Thursday March 2 by the former Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, The Right Reverend Dr James Mehaffey, and the former Bishop of Derry, Dr Edward Daly, who himself has suffered a stroke.

In the Western Health Board area, 500 people a year die from heart disease and 130 from stroke. But although more and more people are surviving stroke, it is the single greatest cause of disability. In the area covered by the Foyle Health and Social Care Group, more than 12,000 people suffer from asthma or lung disease – and this is thought to be an underestimate.

“With figures like these, it was only natural that we should establish more of a presence in the north west,” said the charity’s Chief Executive, Andrew Dougal.

“We already have a range of services for the people of the area, but opening a permanent office underlines our commitment for the future.”

NI Chest, Heart and Stroke’s senior stroke scheme co-ordinator in the north west, Liam Quigley, said: “This area has benefited greatly from our services in recent years, but having a base here allows clients and carers to contact us directly instead of going through our Belfast office.”

The charity operates a pioneering service, Moving On, in the Foyle area, designed with the needs of younger stroke sufferers in mind. It was the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. It now wants to see the establishment of a community stroke scheme, which would provide a seamless link between hospital and home life.

The NI Chest, Heart and Stroke offices are at Spencer House, 14-22 Spencer Road, Derry, Telephone 028 7131 1114.

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