Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implants in Ireland — Costs, Waiting Times & EU Options
A pacemaker keeps your heart from beating too slowly, while an implantable defibrillator (ICD) can shock the heart out of a dangerous fast rhythm. Both are small devices placed under the skin below the collarbone, usually under local anaesthetic.
What is a Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implants?
A pacemaker monitors your heart rhythm and sends small electrical pulses if the heart beats too slowly or pauses. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) does the same but can also deliver a shock to stop a life-threatening fast heart rhythm. Some devices, called CRT devices, help both sides of the heart pump together in heart failure.
The device is placed in a pocket under the skin below the collarbone, with one or more thin wires (leads) passed through a vein into the heart. Some newer pacemakers are tiny leadless devices placed directly in the heart through a vein in the groin.
Who needs this surgery?
A pacemaker or ICD may be recommended for:
- A slow heart rhythm (bradycardia) causing dizziness, fainting or breathlessness
- Heart block, where electrical signals don’t pass properly through the heart
- A high risk of dangerous fast rhythms, such as after a heart attack or with some heart muscle conditions
- Survival of a cardiac arrest
- Some forms of heart failure (CRT devices)
How the procedure works
Assessment
ECGs, heart monitors and an echocardiogram confirm the type of device needed.
Local anaesthetic
The area below the collarbone is numbed and you may have sedation.
Placing the leads
Leads are guided through a vein into the heart under X-ray.
Inserting the device
The device is connected to the leads and placed in a small pocket under the skin.
Checking and discharge
The device is tested and programmed. Many patients go home the same day or the next day.
Where can you have a Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implants?
Compare the public system, private hospitals in Ireland, and HSE-reimbursed treatment in the EU.
Public (HSE)
Free at the point of care with a GP or consultant referral. Waiting times vary widely by hospital, region and clinical urgency; your hospital or the NTPF (ntpf.ie) can tell you where you are on the list.
Private in Ireland
Ask the hospital for a fixed-price quote covering the hospital fee, consultant and anaesthetist fees. Check your health insurance plan for cover, excesses and any approved-hospital list before booking.
EU Cross-Border
Can usually be arranged under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive with a referral from your GP or consultant. As this is normally a day case, prior authorisation is not usually needed, but confirm with the HSE National Contact Point before you book. You pay upfront and claim back up to the Irish public cost. Devices need lifelong checks, so confirm your Irish clinic can follow up the device brand and model before you travel.
Check if you're eligibleHave your surgery in weeks, not years
Under the EU Cross-Border Healthcare Directive, you can be treated in an accredited EU/EEA hospital and claim the cost back from the HSE — with a GP or consultant referral.
Check whether you qualify and what you'd get back.
*Reimbursement is capped at the cost of the same treatment in the Irish public health system. Travel, accommodation and any balance above the HSE rate are not covered. Pre-authorisation applies to treatment involving an overnight hospital stay.
Recovering from a Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implants
Keep the wound dry and avoid raising the arm on that side above shoulder height.
Avoid heavy lifting and vigorous arm movements while the leads settle. Driving rules depend on the device and reason, so check with your team.
A check is usually done at around six weeks, then regularly. Many devices can be monitored remotely.
Pacemaker batteries usually last many years before a simple replacement procedure.
Risks and considerations
Device implantation is common and generally safe. Risks include:
- Bruising or bleeding at the wound
- A lead moving out of position, needing adjustment
- Infection of the device, which is uncommon but may require removal
- Collapsed lung (pneumothorax), which is rare
- Inappropriate shocks from an ICD, which can usually be fixed by reprogramming
Pacemaker & Defibrillator Implants — your questions answered
Can I use a mobile phone with a pacemaker?
Yes. Keep the phone about 15 cm from the device and use the ear on the opposite side.
Can I go through airport security with a pacemaker?
Yes. Carry your device card and tell security staff; you may be checked by hand instead of the scanner.
When can I drive after a pacemaker or ICD?
It depends on the device and the reason for it. After an ICD, restrictions can be longer. Your team will advise you on Irish driving rules.
Can I have a pacemaker fitted abroad?
Planned implants can be eligible under the Cross-Border Directive, but you'll need lifelong device checks, so make sure your Irish clinic can follow up the device brand used.
Related procedures
Coronary Stents (Angioplasty)
Coronary angioplasty and stenting widens a narrowed heart artery using a balloon and leaves a small mesh tube (stent) to hold it…
Coronary Bypass & Heart Valve Surgery
Coronary bypass surgery (CABG) creates new routes for blood around blocked heart arteries, while valve surgery repairs or replaces a narrowed or…
Varicose Vein Surgery
Varicose vein treatment closes or removes swollen, faulty leg veins. Modern treatments use laser or radiofrequency heat through a needle under local…