New home for cardiac service
By Mary Dennehy
CRY Ireland this week moved to a new, bigger premises in Tallaght Cross West, where the team hopes to expand its services – which will remain free to patients and families.
CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) was founded in 2002 by parents Michael and Mary Greene, who lost their son Peter to the condition sudden cardiac death in 1996.
CRY Ireland has moved to new premises and hopes to expand its services
Michael and Mary’s goal was to raise awareness of cardiac risk in the young, support a national screening centre and provide free counselling and support for families affected.
These aims remained at the core of CRY when it moved to a centre on the grounds of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) in 2008.
Over the past decade, more than 6,000 people from right across the country have been seen at the Tallaght-based centre.
Medically staffed by TUH and run by a Consultant Cardiologist, the charity also has one employed staff member and a dedicated team of volunteers.
Over the years, CRY has outgrown its premises and this week moved to a new, larger home across from the main entrance to Tallaght University Hospital in Tallaght Cross West.
Speaking with The Echo, Lucia Ebbs, CRY CEO, said: “We’re delighted with the new premises, it’s three times bigger than our old home.
“CRY has a unique partnership with TUH and the Department of Health, and that partnership helped to facilitate the move.
“We will be operating under the same process, but the new premises will allow us the opportunity to expand down the road.
“The part of the service we want to work on now is our counselling, [and the new space will allow us] to improve support programmes.”
CRY provides a free screening service for families who have lost a loved one to the sudden cardiac death.
Patients attending for diagnostics must have a family history of sudden cardiac death syndrome or a referral from a GP.
All screenings, which are same-day evaluations, are provided free-of-charge, alongside counselling services and family support.
“All of the services will remain free,” Ms Ebbs said.
“This was always the aim and ambition of CRY, that services are free to families.”
She added: “CRY gives peace of mind to families.
“If they have lost someone [to sudden cardiac death] they can check if anyone else is affected.”
On Monday night CRY started its move from the TUH campus and, due to Trojan work by the team, opened its new premises on Tuesday morning – with no disruption to patients.
“We have an incredible team . . . and are all delighted to be in our new premises,” Ms Ebbs said.
CRY has thanked the community for its ongoing fundraising efforts and all of the families that continue to give back to the centre after receiving support.
CRY is a self-supporting charity that does not receive any Government funding and is dependent on fundraising activities to provide its free services.
For further information visit www.cry.ie
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