ABSTRACT

Cardiac rehabilitation reduces mortality and morbidity, improves quality of life and enhances secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. The aim of cardiac rehabilitation is to facilitate physical, psychological and emotional recovery, improve functional capacity and enable patients to achieve and maintain better health. Community cardiac rehabilitation provides continuity during Phase II (4-6 weeks) through to Phase IV with feedback to general practitioners practices at six weeks and six months and has close communication links with the acute units. The pilot demonstrated a need for sensitive, locally based services in the community with a up-take of these services when provided - 75% attended the group programme. A series of planning meetings with representatives from hospital and community in collaboration with other agencies led to the initiation of this community rehabilitation programme. Second Chancers have fund raised to provide an automatic defibrillator for the rehab centres. For primary and secondary care the need for a flexible cardiac rehabilitation service has been highlighted.