From Enniscorthy Cardiac Care Rehabilitation to Dublin City marathon: HSE Chronic Disease Services support patients to return to active healthy lives

The HSE’s Enniscorthy Cardiac Rehabilitation Service is helping people recover from cardiac events and return to active and healthy lives through specialist rehabilitation, education and support.

The service’s positive impact is reflected through the experience of former patient, Jimmy Doyle (58), who recently completed the Dublin City Marathon, following a significant cardiac event in 2023, highlighting the important role cardiac rehabilitation can play in improving health, wellbeing and quality of life.

From Kildavin, county Carlow, Jimmy came to the Enniscorthy Cardiac Rehabilitation Services while he was recovering from a heart attack and coronary artery bypass surgery in January 2024. Following this major health scare and a long family history of heart disease, Jimmy was strongly motivated to improve his health and quality of life.

It began with gradually increasing his activity and under the supervision of the Enniscorthy Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, he started running on the treadmill. As his confidence grew, the service encouraged him to download the Couch to 5K app and take part in a Parkrun. The 58 year old also completed the local Hope and Dream Run and now participates in Parkruns every week.

Jimmy enthused: “With the support of the Enniscorthy Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, I was able to build on this motivation safely, at a pace that suited me. I am so grateful for the advice and support I got. The team grew my confidence and helped me to rebuild my strength while improving my quality of life.”

What is Cardiac Rehabilitation?

Cardiac rehabilitation is about much more than exercise. It supports people to understand their heart condition, rebuild their strength and confidence, and reduce their risk of future heart problems. Alongside personalised exercise, the programme includes education and support around medication, cholesterol, blood pressure, stopping smoking, nutrition and emotional wellbeing.

Lisa Mahon, Staff Nurse with the Wexford Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, explained how having the service locally impacted Jimmy’s recovery. “Having the service close to home helped Jimmy attend regularly and fit rehabilitation into his everyday life. It also allowed us to help him connect with local opportunities to stay active. That is an important part of our work: helping people develop routines and find support they can continue to draw on after the programme ends.”

While Liz Murphy, Operational Lead for the Wexford Chronic Disease Team, outlined: “The aim of developing chronic disease specialist teams in the community, in line with Sláintecare, is to help people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. These teams bring specialist assessment, treatment and support closer to home for people living with diabetes, respiratory and cardiac conditions.

“In Wexford, we’ve been building our service since 2023 and have supported thousands of patients over the past three years. Our clinical specialist teams have developed strong working relationships with GPs, hospital colleagues and local community services. Those connections help us provide coordinated care and support people to manage their health in their everyday lives.

“This is what the ‘shift left’ towards community care is intended to achieve: supporting people earlier, helping them stay well and reducing avoidable hospital attendance and admissions, while ensuring access to hospital care when needed.”

Speaking about Jimmy’s experience, Emer McCarthy, physiotherapist with the Wexford Community Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, added: “Jimmy’s story brings that ambition to life. It shows the difference an established specialist team in the community can make, not only in someone’s recovery, but in their confidence, independence and long-term wellbeing. That is the value of these services, and why their continued development across the country matters.

“It has been wonderful to see his confidence and fitness grow, and to see the lasting changes he has made to his health.”

Dr Cyril James, Integrated Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for the Wexford Cardiovascular & Cardiac Rehabilitation Service, highlighted: “What stands out about our chronic disease specialist team in Wexford is their commitment to going above and beyond for the people in their care. The team take time to understand each patient’s circumstances, concerns and ambitions, meeting them wherever they are in their chronic disease journey and tailoring support around what matters to them.

“Having the cardiac rehabilitation service in Enniscorthy means people can access specialist rehabilitation close to home and build connections that support their recovery long after the programme finishes. Jimmy’s journey reflects both his own remarkable commitment and the encouragement, clinical expertise and personal attention this team brings to patient care.”