Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

University Hospital Waterford's regional cardiology interventional suite opened in 2008 and serves a population of almost 500,000 people. In 2012, the suite was identified as the designated primary PCI centre for the region, under the national clinical programme for acute coronary syndrome. Its services cover Waterford, Kilkenny, south Tipperary and Wexford. The centre currently has one catheterisation laboratory, which operates five days a week and incorporates a dedicated six-bed cardiac day ward. Staff include three consultant interventional cardiologists based at Waterford and two visiting consultant cardiologists, from Wexford and south Tipperary, who work there one day a week.

Having 24-hour emergency PCI cover requires, as a minimum, two cath labs on site. As for any complex acute hospital service, a key criterion for deciding whether a 24-hour PCI service should be provided is whether there is a sufficient volume of appropriate activity to ensure safe provision of the service to patients. Without sufficient volume, the number of staff required to man a 24-7 roster will not be in a position to treat the number of patients needed to maintain their skills.

A review of PCI services in Dublin is due to be completed shortly. On the completion of that process, PCI capacity and requirements in areas outside Dublin, including in Waterford, will be examined. Any decision on further provision of PCI services in any region will be based on the best interest of patients and on evidence on the volume of clinical need, the quality and safety of the service that can be provided, the ability to staff it safely and the resources available.

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