Stroke Champion Accolade

Professor Des O’Neill, Consultant Geriatrician in Tallaght Hospital was awarded the Stroke Champion accolade for his pioneering work in promoting stroke services in Ireland at the Irish Heart Foundation National Stroke Awards 2011.

Professor O’Neill has been a pioneer in promoting better services for people with stroke in Ireland for two decades. After initial work in scoping out the needs of those with stroke in the early 1990s, Professor O’Neill set up the first acute stroke service in Ireland in Tallaght Hospital. This service has gone from strength to strength and has led the way in stroke service development in Ireland. In 2008, Professor O’Neill was the principal investigator for Irish Heart Foundation’s National Stroke Audit – which revealed the appalling lack of services for stroke patients in Ireland. Professor O’Neill regularly contributes to academic publications on all aspects of stroke care and is a strong advocate for care of the elderly in Ireland. For his continuous devotion and unsurpassed contribution to the cause of stroke patients, Professor Des O’Neill won the Boehringer Ingelheim Stroke Champion Award 2011.

Prof. O’Neill was one of ten award recipients at the event hosted by Marty Whelan. Living soap legend Jim Bartley who himself suffered a stroke earlier this year on 1st June (2011) was also on hand to present an award.

At the event Michael O’Shea Chief Executive, Irish Heart Foundation said: “There are nearly 50,000 stroke survivors in Ireland today and each and every one is a winner in our book. Our charity is proud to bring to light the daily miracles and heroic efforts happening around the country in overcoming stroke and our 10 award winners represent the strength of all stroke survivors nationwide. The reality is that stroke can happen to anyone and by telling these stories we aim to give hope to all that there can be positive outcomes. We also hope it will help to keep the need for better stroke services high up on the health agenda. Because there is life after stroke, and we have the heroes to prove it.”

To find out more about stroke problems see www.stroke.ie or talk to an Irish Heart Foundation nurse on the Heart & Stroke Helpline Locall 1890 432 787.

The Irish Heart Foundation Stroke Award winners:

ENDS