Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 July 2018
384. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason the decision to provide a new modular cardio cath lab service for Waterford University Hospital has been made before the national cath lab report has been finalised; if County Sligo and the north west region will be allocated a similar service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30035/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently two cath labs based in Galway which service the acute cardiac cases for Sligo and the Northwest. For elective cases there is a mobile cath lab unit operating one day a week in both Sligo and Letterkenny.
The aim of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. As set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027, investment in cardiac catheterisation laboratories and other cardiac services infrastructure nationally will be informed by the outcome of this Review, which is expected to be complete by June 2019.
The Deputy may wish to note that the provision of a modular cath lab at Waterford, in relation to which I have asked my Department to engage with the HSE, is an interim solution pending the outcome of the National Review.
