Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. I was here for Dr. Herity's testimony earlier. He stood over his report. I would have expected nothing less from the author of a report but it was important that we heard him. Clearly, there are very divergent views on the report and it is important to hear the views of the witnesses before us as well. In that context, we now have a situation where that report has been more or less accepted as the basis upon which we will provide cardiac services in University Hospital Waterford. One of the reasons I was anxious to bring this issue before the committee, on foot of representations from Deputy Mary Butler and others, is that a review of cardiac services nationally is also planned. My concern is that if we are accept the Herity report in its totality that will form the basis for the assessment of all cardiac services across the country. There would be a knock-on effect in terms of catchment areas, demand and the potential ways of addressing the needs that exist.

These are not my views but questions I want to ask to clarify certain matters. In the context of code st-elevation myocardial infarctions, STEMIs, in the catchment area we are proposing, if there is a code STEMI in north Wexford, I assume, regardless of the services in Waterford, that would go to St. Vincent's hospital.