Kate O'Connell (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Am I reading it right that 4% of the procedures were emergency procedures and that 96% were regular or scheduled procedures? What is Dr. Herity's professional opinion on performing these primary PCIs which is how it was referred to at that low level without an extensive cardiology support network and the invasive surgery the lads and women can perform? What impact does that have on the health outcomes for patients? Let us take someone who arrives in an ambulance in under 90 minutes to University Hospital Waterford. He or she is in the 4% category and does not have access to the cardiology backup services. Does Dr. Herity have data on the outcomes for such patients? I assume that they are worse than if they were taken to a centre of excellence.

In reference to what many colleagues have stated, I am not disappointed with Dr. Herity's answers. From what he has stated, I am happy that he took all data into account. Perhaps he did not meet everyone, but I am happy that he took the Higgins report, etc. into account. I accept his professional view that increasing capacity does not necessarily correlate with an increased throughput of patients. As far as I know - I read it somewhere - there are data that prove this. However, I do not think we are all in the same boat and distinguish myself from certain groupings here.