About Us
The Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons (CRY) is a collaboration between the Adelaide and Meath Hospital, Tallaght, St James’s and St Vincent’s University Hospitals, and Trinity College Dublin. As a major component of the Institute of Cardiovascular Science, the Centre will be housed in one of the new building projects on the Tallaght site. Although initially run from the Cardiology Department (mostly out-of-hours on evenings and weekends), from November 2008 a temporary home is being provided in a purpose-built temporary building on the Tallaght site. Full daytime services are available from this time onwards. We also run a clinic in St James’s Hospital.
The Centre was developed by Dr David Mulcahy, Professor Ian Graham and colleagues. There are two Co-Directors, Dr Deirdre Ward in Tallaght and Dr Ross Murphy in St James’s Hospital. Both these Cardiologists have a special interest in this area and spent several years with Professor Bill McKenna and his team in London, who are world-recognised experts in this field.
The Centre is currently being funded almost entirely by direct private donations or donations to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY – Ireland), who have agreed to fund equipment purchase and personnel for three years. The Centre has also been generously supported by the Adelaide Society. Full-time staff at the Centre include a Clinical Nurse Specialist, an Administrator and 2 Cardiac Technicians in addition to the Cardiologist. CRY-Ireland provide counselling services where appropriate (and by prior arrangement).
The Centre aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of those diagnosed with or at risk from cardiovascular disease, particularly, but not exclusively, at a young age. This is to include relatives of victims of sudden cardiac death where the cause may be hereditary. These families are seen as a priority. We also accept referral of patients with other inherited heart diseases such as cardiomyopathies, ion Channelopathies (such as Long QT syndrome and Brugada syndrome), Marfan’s syndrome and premature coronary disease. In the absence of a family history of heart disease or sudden death we accept referral of (young) patients with symptoms that may be suggestive of significant cardiac disease such as unexplained blackouts (especially if they are repeated or associated with exercise), prolonged palpitations (especially if associated with dizziness) or shortness of breath and/or chest pain which significantly limits capacity for exercise.
Most people who attend for evaluation have an ECG and echo (cardiac ultrasound). Some people also require an exercise stress test (treadmill or bicycle) and 24 hour heart rhythm monitoring (Holter monitor). As far as possible all tests are done at the first visit and results discussed with the Consultant before you leave the hospital.
Contact
Access to the service is by referral from another doctor (GP or Consultant usually). There is no charge for the services provided and we accept referrals from anywhere in the country.
Letters of referral can be sent to Dr Deirdre Ward, care of the Cardiac Department in Tallaght Hospital or faxed to (01) 414 3052 for the attention of Dr Ward.
We can also be contacted at tel: (01) 414 3058 or by email at CDYPclinic@amnch.ie. Those who wish to avail of counselling services can contact CRY Ireland on (01) 839 5438 or by email: cryireland@hotmail.com or access their website at www.cry.ie.
Other useful contacts/links
The Irish Heart Foundation, tel: (01) 668 5001, email: info@irishheart.ie, web: www.irishheart.ie
The Irish Heart Foundation is the official home of patient support groups including:
- The Irish Cardiomyopathy Support Group
- The Long QT Syndrome Support Group
- The Irish Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young Support Group
- The Implantable Defibrillator (ICD) Support Group
Other sources of information and patient support groups include:
The UK Sudden Adult Death Syndrome Support Group
The UK Cardiomyopathy Association
The UK Arrhythmia Alliance
CRY - UK
American Heart Association
