Matt Shanahan demands 24-7 cardiac care at Waterford Hospital
Matt Shanahan questioned the government on slainter care policy and demanded 24-7 cardiac care at University Hospital of Waterford following reports of a death and a recent heart attack. He pressed for confirmation that the hospital's cat lab and ambulance referrals will be available to regional heart attack patients when hours are extended.
Immediate concern
He highlighted planned extensions to the cat lab hours - seven days a week, eight to eight - but said he could get no confirmation from the HSE that regional heart attack patients will be provided access at University Hospital of Waterford or that ambulances will be referred from the region during the extended hours.
Personal cases cited
He recounted correspondence from a medical professional: an immediate family member died in April at the age of 49 from a heart attack because the cat lab was not accessible on the weekend; a second immediate family member, age 47, recently survived a heart attack because the weekday cat lab service was available.
Government response
The minister said the government is committed to expanding the cardiology service at Waterford University Hospital, including a second cat lab, extending hours and recruiting key personnel. The minister added that the issue is not a funding matter but has been influenced by the various colleges in relation to cardiology and their views on what level of service should be provided in different settings.
Outstanding questions
Shanahan asked what the government and the party are doing to deliver 24-7 cardiac care and whether they will end what he described as health discrimination; the minister reiterated a commitment to expand the service as quickly as possible but did not confirm immediate access or ambulance referral arrangements.
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My question relates to slainter care policy and specifically resource deficiencies at University Hospital of Waterford, a regional hospital as you know to 600,000 people. I received correspondence earlier this week from a medical professional who described how an immediate family member of theirs died in April at the age of 49 years of age due to heart attack and the cat lab at Waterford was not accessible because it was on the weekend. A second immediate family member has suffered heart attack in recent weeks at 47 years of age. They survived because the weekday cat lab service was available to them. They are questioning, as am I, what are your government doing to deliver 24-7 cardiac care at University Hospital of Waterford? The cat lab hours presently are due to be extended seven days a week, eight to eight, and yet I can get no confirmation from HSE that regional heart attack patients will be provided access at University Hospital of Waterford, or that ambulance will be referred from the region during the extended hours. Basically, I would appreciate if you would answer what your government and your party are doing about 24-7 at University Hospital of Waterford. Will you end this health discrimination? Well, I think, Deputy, you are aware of the government's commitments and plans in relation to expanding the cardiology service at Waterford University Hospital in terms of the second cat lab, and expanding the hours as you have outlined, and critically also recruiting the key personnel. And this issue is not a funding issue. Predominantly, it's been an issue determined by the various colleges in relation to cardiology and their view in terms of what level of service should go into in different settings. And we've had this discussion, but we are committed to expanding the service as quickly as we possibly can. Thank you.
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