Matt Shanahan: Second Waterford cath lab 'a Rolls Royce with no engine'
Matt Shanahan addressed the Taoiseach about the imminent handover of a second cath lab in Waterford and the lack of bed allocation to support 24-7 cardiac care. He argued the facility cannot open without additional beds and asked the Taoiseach to expedite a framework to secure bed allocations.
Main concern
Shanahan said the second cath lab in Waterford is weeks from formal handover but there is no bed allocation beyond the hospital's existing beds. He warned that without those beds the new facility cannot properly deliver 24-7 cardiac care.
Unfulfilled promises and engagement
He recalled a promised 12-bed day ward and said he has engaged with the HSC for almost two years. Discussions have included modular space, capital remediation and moving out community services, but he said no progress has been made to deliver the promised beds.
Appeal to the Taoiseach
Shanahan highlighted there are 51 days to the end of the Premiership and asked the Taoiseach to commit to the Department of the Taoiseach to expedite a framework to get beds allocated in the remaining days. He stressed that the cath lab cannot open without beds.
Minister's reply
The minister responded in the chamber, saying officials can accelerate the process, that they are working on it and that debates and further actions will follow. The minister expressed a hope that future statements will reflect delivered wins on a second cath lab, staff, beds and services.
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Taoiseach, I count 51 days to the end of your Premiership and I would highlight to you many commitments were made to Waterford and the South East in that time but one stands paramount and that is the issue of 24-7 cardiac care. Now we are just weeks away from a formal handover of the second cat lab in Waterford and we have no bed allocation other than the existing allocation within the hospital to service that cat lab. In essence we are getting a Rolls Royce with no engine. A 12-bed day ward was promised and I have engaged with the HSC for almost two years. We have spoken about modular space, we have spoken about capital remediation and we have spoken about moving out community services. But we have done nothing, Taoiseach, in that time to deliver these beds and we cannot open a cat lab without having beds. So I would ask Taoiseach to you and to your offices in these remaining days, Taoiseach will you give a commitment to the Department of Taoiseach to expedite some... ... some...Fraimwork that we can get beds allocated. He shook his body. Minister. Deputy, I look forward to the day you stand up and say, we asked for a second cat lab and we got it. We asked for a lot more staff and we got them. We asked for more beds in the hospital and we got them. We asked for more services in the regime and we got them. Deputy, you are aware that, Deputy, sorry, I will not shout over you, so Deputy please have the courtesy to let me answer your question. Deputy, there is 22 seconds left for the Minister. Do you want to use your 22 seconds? I would say we have the number we can to accelerate this. We are doing it. We will also provide debates as well. Thank you.
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