Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the discussions of Sláintecare, coming as they do after the absence of any resource allocation to the implementation of or any mention of Sláintecare in the budget. With regard to Cabinet discussions, I want to raise the provision of cardiac care across the country, in particular the provision of cardiac services in the south east. On Friday, I met with a number of groups in Waterford campaigning for 24-hour cardiac care support, including a second catheterisation laboratory on a permanent basis and the provision of a 24-7 emergency facility. The report commissioned by the Government, by Dr. Niall Herity, in July 2016, stated that any elective procedures would be carried out in the south east region, putting at risk people who live more than the 90 minute critical timespace away from either the Dublin or Cork based hospitals. The Government promised to review the Herity report and the facilities to be made available in University Hospital Waterford.

More recently, the Minister for Health has announced a national review which, when it is put in place, will take 18 months to complete its work. That will be significantly resisted by people in the south east. They are working on the basis that they need facilities now. We absolutely support a national review of cardiac services but in the interim, we have to have a review of services currently available in the south east to make sure they are providing cardiac care for people who live in the south east that is on a par with the rest of the country. Will the Taoiseach give a commitment that, pending the welcome establishment and conclusion of a national cardiac review, there will be, as promised, an immediate review of cardiac services in the south east to be based at University Hospital Waterford.

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