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Hospital Staff Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Questions (314, 315)

Mick Wallace

Question:

314. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to recruit an interventional cardiologist as a matter of urgency in order to commence interventional cardiac catheterisation activity at the relocatable laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in the interest of patient safety (details supplied). [46521/18]

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Mick Wallace

Question:

315. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the reason the relocatable modular laboratory which arrived at University Hospital Waterford in September 2018 was disabled by the removal of equipment prior to its arrival here thus preventing it from providing an emergency backup service to the permanent catheterisation laboratory at UHW (details supplied). [46522/18]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.

As the Deputy is aware, a mobile cath lab has been deployed at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) since October 2017 to conduct diagnostic cardiac procedures. In August, it was replaced by the provider with a relocatable cath lab, operating on the same basis as the mobile cath lab, i.e. it is managed by three diagnostic cardiologists, operates three days per week, and carries out diagnostic cardiology procedures only. The contractual arrangements in place at UHW are for the provision of a unit capable of carrying out diagnostic cardiac procedures only. There are no plans to provide interventional services in the relocatable cath lab.

As the Deputy is also aware that Dr Herity concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford could be accommodated from a single cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing cath lab, which provides interventional services, should be extended. Approval and funding has been provided for the additional staff required to facilitate this service expansion. Pending the completion of the recruitment process, a mobile/relocatable cath lab has been in place since October 2017 which has improved access and reduced waiting times for patients.

While the hospital group experienced difficulties recruiting the necessary staff to facilitate the expansion in hours of operation, I am pleased to note that five staff (Grade IV Admin, Porter, Senior Cardiac Physiologist, Senior Radiographer and Staff Nurse) have now been recruited on an 8am to 8pm working day basis. Documentation is also being finalised for the recruitment of a 1 WTE consultant cardiologist required to facilitate the provision of additional operating hours.

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