Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister is well aware, the issue of 24/7 cardiac care and the provision of a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford is one that has been raised on numerous occasions in this the Thirty-second Dáil by me and my colleagues, both cross-party and those of none. Notwithstanding the numerous representations on this issue, the current situation in University Hospital Waterford remains the same. Cardiac services in the hospital are time sensitive, opening Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and being closed all day Saturday and Sunday. It is simply not acceptable that time restrictions play such a role in the day to day lives of the people of the south east. If a patient presents as requiring cardiac intervention services outside these times, the only option is an ambulance to Cork University Hospital or St. James's Hospital in Dublin. Recently, the death of Mr. Thomas Power brought into sharp focus the absolute single point of failure of the current service, the difficulty with the road network to Cork University Hospital and arriving there within the required 90 minutes and the capacity demand mismatch of the current opening hours.

On Tuesday of this week, after a frantic few days working with Deputy Cullinane to ensure the wording was correct, a motion was tabled in the Dáil. It was signed by all the Deputies of Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Green Party and the Rural Alliance as well as Deputies Mick Wallace and Clare Daly. I thank each and every one of those who supported the motion. It has shown that we can work together. We may have different political ideologies, but this has to transcend politics because people's lives are at stake. As I said, the Power family recently lost a son, a brother, a husband and a soon-to-be dad.

The motion calls on the Government to immediately initiate a second independent review into the provision of cardiac care in the south east. The motion also calls on the Minister to commence its work within six weeks of the passing of the motion. Due to Dáil time restrictions and regulations this week, it was not possible to hear the motion. The motion was forwarded to the Minister and a meeting requested. As a result, we met the Minister, Deputy Harris, and officials from the Department of Health this evening at 6 p.m. All Waterford Oireachtas Members were invited to attend and those present were the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, Deputy Cullinane, Senator Coffey and me. Senator Grace O'Sullivan was represented at the meeting.

This cross-party meeting was very constructive. This was not about politics. Rather, we were all working together, sitting around a table, trying to find a way forward, a clear pathway, a sign-post as to how we could move on the issue.

This was a frank, open meeting and all those present outlined the pressing need for the review to commence as speedily as possible. We impressed on the Minister the need for urgent and speedy action. We pointed out what we consider to be the failings with the current system, the depth of feelings in Waterford and the south east and the absolute necessity for immediate movement. We all detected a step change with the Minister and his officials and a greater understanding of the issues being experienced in the south east. We all understand that this service can only be delivered based on clear medical and clinical need and, unfortunately, the Herity report did not show this to be the case.

I welcome the Minister's decision tonight to expedite a national review of all primary PCI services, encompassing the south-east region. I look forward to the statement he will make to the House.

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