Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2017
47. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be allocated to the existing cardiac catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in order to increase the current capacity to accommodate the estimated 450 additional procedures that will be referred there through additional diagnostic angiograms set to be provided by a mobile catheterisation laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48096/17]
View answerFunding of €0.5m was allocated in 2017 for Cardiology Services in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), as recommended in the Herity report, to increase planned Cath Lab sessions by 20%. I requested that the HSE maximise the benefit for patients from the €0.5m funding in respect of both additional sessions at the existing Cath Lab and the temporary use of a mobile Cath Lab for a specific period. The mobile Cath Lab was deployed for the short term provision of cardiac diagnostic angiogram services on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford from 02 October 2017 for a period of 20 weeks and is currently providing a scheduled diagnostic angiography service on a 3 day per week basis.
In regard to resources for University Hospital Waterford in 2018, the HSE is currently in the process of preparing its 2018 Service Plan.
