Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018
103. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve and enhance cardiac care services for those living in the south east; his views on whether there is an equal provision of cardiac services in this region when compared with the rest of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50874/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn independent review in 2016 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 should be extended. Approval and funding has been provided for the additional staff required to facilitate this service expansion.
While the hospital group has experienced difficulties recruiting the necessary staff to facilitate the expansion in hours of operation, I am pleased to note that five staff have now been recruited on an 8am to 8pm working day basis. Documentation is also being finalised for the recruitment of a consultant cardiologist required to facilitate the provision of additional operating hours.
A mobile cath lab has been deployed at the hospital since October 2017 to conduct diagnostic cardiac procedures.
I have decided to proceed with the provision of a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford in order to address waiting times at the hospital and to provide a better service for the people of Waterford and the South East. It is intended that the cost of progressing the project to design, planning and construction stages will be considered in the context of the HSE's Capital Plan for 2019.
The independent review in 2016 also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services should cease to allow the hospital focus on the much larger volume of planned work. I asked my Department to address the implications of this recommendation by undertaking a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. The aim of this Review 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 cath labs and other cardiac services infrastructure nationally will be informed by the outcome of the National Review, which is expected to be complete by June 2019.
