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

It is a long one, though, is it not? I wish to raise the Herity report and the very tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Mr. Thomas Power. He died last Sunday week outside Dungarvan while he was being transferred to Cork. He drove to Waterford hospital as he did not feel well and he was subsequently transferred to Cork, but he died on the way there. I know there will be a full clinical review of the case. I do not like raising such issues as I am conscious of the families involved, but we would almost be failing in our duty if we were to allow it to pass without delving into the reasons it happened. If there are flaws in the service, as I believe is the case, we should address them. The Herity report is forming part of the overall acute cardiac service reviews across the country. If the Minister is reviewing cardiac services nationally, I do not understand why he would allow the Herity report to stand and to work out from there when everyone in the south east knows there is a deficiency in cardiac services. That is acknowledged by everyone. It is even acknowledged in the Herity report, which I believe is flawed. In the south east we have 170,000 people who are up to 90 minutes away from acute cardiac services. That in itself is a very worrying situation. I am concerned that the national review will take the Herity report as being de facto and correct, and use it when assessing the overall national cardiac services. The Herity report should be withdrawn, and when the full appraisal is done, it should be a stand-alone one. The people of the south east deserve that much, as well as the Power family and others who may have suffered tragic consequences due to the inadequate cardiac services. I urge the Minister to examine that issue.