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NICHS welcomes favourable Audit Office Report on Performance of Health Service in Northern Ireland

Wednesday 1 October 2008

NICHS is aware that there has been a tremendous decline in deaths from coronary heart disease in recent years. This has been due to the fact that a prevention campaign was initiated in 1986, which had been strongly urged by NICHS.

NICHS is aware that there has been a tremendous decline in deaths from coronary heart disease in recent years. This has been due to the fact that a prevention campaign was initiated in 1986, which had been strongly urged by NICHS.

In addition, a large number of improvements in the health service had been made available, including improved access to cardiac surgery (which was advocated by NICHS since 1991) increased number of angioplastys and also angioplastys with stenting. Subsequently, angioplastys were made available with drug-eluting stents. These have proved to be very successful.

Andrew Dougal, NICHS chief executive said: "The number of actual deaths from coronary heart disease has been cut dramatically. This is extremely positive and congratulations to all who have worked so hard to achieve this.

"We are detecting and preventing first cardiac episodes, which in many cases are fatal. However, we acknowledge the overall levels of heart disease and stroke in the community have not been that greatly reduced. Clearly, we must not rest. There is still a huge amount of work to be done.

"The prevention work of NICHS over the years was only possible because of the generosity of the people of N. Ireland."

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