The risk register helps to establish a direction for managing risks. It provides managers with a high level overview of the services’ risk status at a particular point in time, and becomes a dynamic tool for the monitoring of actions which need to be taken to mitigate that risk.
I am aware that the South/South West Hospital Group risk register had identified out of hours access to interventional cardiology services as a risk. However, to manage this risk protocols are in place for STEMI patients out of hours, which includes patients being transferred to Cork or Dublin for primary PCI. Alternatively, STEMI patients receive thrombolysis at the nearest hospital before later being referred to a PCI centre.
The Deputy will be aware of the review of cath lab services at UHW which was undertaken by Dr Niall Herity. Dr Herity has made clear recommendations that a second cardiac cath lab at UHW is not justified. However, he recommends investing in UHW to enhance the existing cardiology services including increasing the number of weekly sessions currently provided, in order to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. He also recommends that new specialist equipment be provided to improve contingency for radiological equipment failure during a procedure. I am happy to provide the additional resources necessary to implement these recommendations. This investment will be reflected in the HSE National Service Plan for 2017.
Dr Herity also recommends that some services be provided elsewhere. In this regard, I have asked my Department to address the implications of this recommendation by undertaking a national review of all primary PCI services with the aim to ensure that as many patients as possible have access to a 24/7 basis to safe and sustainable emergency interventions following a heart attack. I expect the review to be completed by the end of July 2017.
Implementation of Dr Herity’s report will, I believe, strengthen the provision of safe and sustainable primary PCI services for STEMI patients in the South East.
