“LOST without it” is how Bentley woman Diana Adler describes her reaction to news that community-based cardiac rehabilitation program HeartBeat is to be axed.
News that funds would be withdrawn by the WA Primary Health Alliance came as Heart Foundation WA, in the lead-up to the state election, was calling for major parties to commit to boosting the uptake of cardiac rehabilitation in a bid to save thousands of lives and millions of dollars.
HeartBeat, running for two hours each week over seven weeks, is designed to help people manage their heart condition or reduce their risk of heart disease.
It has been credited with decreasing hospital readmission rates and assisting people with lifestyle changes.
Suellen Althaus, a HeartBeat program co-ordinator, said she was disappointed by the decision, which would affect about 200 people.
“HeartBeat has been running for 16 years and is recognised as a successful program,” she said.
“It has stopped people going back into hospital with secondary heart attacks so has reduced pressure on the public health system.
“HeartBeat offered important and different services to those offered by other support groups, such as tailored exercises and nutrition advice. It operated in Bentley, Gosnells, Kelmscott, Byford and Kardinya.
“The group approach helped prevent social isolation, which can be a massive heart attack risk.”
Ms Althaus said participants were upset by the changes.
Since attending the HeartBeat program at Bentley, Diana Adler has seen her fitness and strength improve.
Ms Adler, who uses a walking stick, has weight issues and has been identified as at risk of a heart event. She regularly attends HeartBeat maintenance classes, offered for a small fee after completion of the free program.
“I have mobility issues and cannot manage other exercise programs,” she said.
“I was told HeartBeat was ending because it duplicated other services, but I have not been able to find another service like it.”
Ms Adler can’t manage the equipment in gym-based programs, mall-walking is out of the question, and it was also suggested she travel an hour to a group in Melville.
“I could access HeartBeat twice a week, they monitored my health and the companionship was great,” she said.
“I will feel lost without it.”
Heart Foundation chief executive Maurice Swanson said the organisation would investigate how it could advocate for the program to continue.
“We will also look at how we can support and meet the needs of people who have regularly attended the program, as some do not have the physical capacity to join other programs,” he said.
Mr Swanson said patients who participated in an effective cardiac program reduced their risk of hospital readmission by 40 per cent and were 25 per cent less likely to die from another heart attack.
Cardiac rehabilitation programs, he said, could be delivered at an average cost of $885 per person, while each heart attack cost about $30,000 in health care.
The Heart Foundation says heart disease is the leading single cause of death in WA. One in every eight deaths in 2015 was as a result of heart disease (1809 deaths).
