Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his questions. I know his commitment to this issue, about which we have had a number of discussions. In terms of the broader issue of model 4 hospital funding, an ongoing assessment will be undertaken that will include the question of funding for Waterford and its needs and demands. I will revert to the Deputy in that regard.

As the Deputy is aware, the programme for Government commits to the delivery of a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford. The preferred option is a second cath lab and associated 12-bed day ward, which would deliver six additional beds on the roof of the existing cardiology department. Covid-19 did delay the work on that but it is now intended that it will go to tender at the end of this month. I have been assured of that not just by the Minister for Health but by the HSE as well. Prior to that, a lot of progress had been made. The HSE had been advised that funding was allocated in the 2019 capital plan for the provision of the second cath lab. Planning permission was received from Waterford City and County Council in January of this year. The disability access certificate was granted in April, the fire certificate in June and, as I said, it will go to tender now at the end of the month. It is a two-stage process as there are main and specialist contractors. The whole process, which is necessary because of procurement, will take about four months. Thus the works on the new cath lab are due to commence in quarter 1 of 2021. In the interests of being fully transparent, the build will take 12 months so the new lab should be ready by early 2022. This will transform cardiac services in County Waterford. The national review is still under way. As the Deputy noted, the upgrade works to the existing cath lab were also delayed when the contractors had to close the site due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They returned to the site in early August and the lab has been, I understand, fully operational since 14 September. I understand that the arrangement between UPMC Whitfield Hospital and the HSE is ongoing and that the recruitment of an interventional cardiologist has been successful, which will significantly help throughput in the cardiac department as well.

On ICU beds, we will assess that but broadly speaking, additional capacity was developed across the country. In addition to that, there is the issue of potential capacity for use in the event of a surge as a result of Covid-19, for example. It is interesting that up to 1,500 staff were trained up to work in ICUs. ICU beds are very labour-intensive and it is not just about the bed. It is about a 1:1 nurse to patient ratio so there are very substantial human resources behind every ICU bed that is provided. I have heard the Deputy's comments on the ICU issue in County Waterford and I will pursue it further.

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