C.R.Y.P. Centre at Tallaght Hospital officially opens
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| Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and Co Founder CRY Marie Greene at Official Opening CRYP Centre |
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| Marie and Michael Greene Co Founders of CRY |
The Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons (CRYP), which aims to screen a minimum of 1,600 young patients annually, was officially opened by former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald on Monday 10th November 2008 onsite in the Adelaide and Meath Hospital (AMNCH), Tallaght, Co Dublin.
This innovative new Centre is supported by the charity CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) that provides information, education, and counselling services. CRY is actively engaged in fundraising to support the running of the Centre.
CRY was established in 2002 by parents who had experienced the sudden death of a child and were troubled by the lack of systematic medical and emotional support. Funding is also being provided by individual benefactors and the Patches Trust and Volunteers Services, AMNCH.
Amongst those at the Official Opening were former Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald, Anglican Archbishop of Dublin John Neill, Leinster rugby captain Leo Cullen & family, the Board of CRYP, trustees, representatives of families concerned, medical & political dignitaries and supporters of CRY. Special guests and visitors walked through the new CRYP Centre and attended an Official Opening Ceremony at the adjacent Education Theatre.
Over 5,000 people suffer sudden cardiac death in Ireland each year, of which 60 to 80 are under the age of 35 years. Cardiac disease in young people is mostly due to inherited heart disease or birth defects. Awareness of sudden cardiac death has increased in the last few years due to the sudden deaths of high- profile athletes. While the facilities to diagnose coronary heart disease are available in most hospitals, up to now, services for screening and supporting relatives of those who died suddenly have not been readily available.
In response to this need a dedicated new treatment centre, The Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons (CRYP), was developed by Dr David Mulcahy and Professor Ian Graham and their colleagues in the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght (AMNCH) and St James’s Hospital to provide a medical facility for evaluating at-risk individuals and families, particularly young people. The Centre currently operates from AMNCH Tallaght, with a clinic in St James’ Hospital, and there are plans to develop a clinic in St Vincent’s University Hospital also.
Dedicated accommodation is now on the AMNCH site which will allow rapid access to full non-invasive cardiac evaluation for individuals and families from November 2008. The Medical Committee also comprises senior Consultants from St Vincent’s Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast in addition to those from Tallaght and St James.
The two Co-Directors of the new Centre for Cardiovascular Risk are Dr Deirdre Ward in Tallaght and Dr Ross Murphy in St James’ Hospital. Both these cardiologists have a special interest in the area of inherited cardiac disease and spent several years with Professor Bill McKenna and his team in London who are world-recognised experts in this field. In addition to the medical staff, from November 2008 there will be a Clinical Nurse Specialist, an Administrator and two Cardiac Technicians working full-time at the Centre.
Today, now that the full-time service is open, it is anticipated that a minimum of 1600 patients can be seen annually, with expansion to up to 3000 annually by end phase 3. Funds have been raised so far to purchase the necessary equipment to run the Centre, and to fund recruitment of the non-physician staff.
Access to the Centre is by referral from a GP or local Consultant. Patients can be referred from anywhere in the country. There is no charge made to the patient regardless of their financial or insurance basis.
Fundraising is crucial on an ongoing basis to cover the costs of the Centre. If you would like to help or support CRY contact Lucy.
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Leo Cullen & family – mother Paula and brother Owen at Official Opening of C.R.Y.P. |
Deirdre Ward, Co Director CRYP Centre, Former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald, Marie and Michael Greene |
To view more photographs of the opening please click on this link
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