Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I brought the issue of hospital and cardiac care in Waterford to the Dáil a number of times and I am glad to report the second cath lab is more or less completed. There is a commissioning phase to be completed over the next eight to ten weeks. The efforts of University Hospital Waterford should be recognised. It is now the stand-out hospital in the country in having the lowest trolley count and most significant impact on its long-term waiting lists, which are down by over 20% this year. However, the hospital is still struggling with resourcing. We have no cath lab beds dedicated for the day ward. I spoke to the Minister for Health last night and he said this is being progressed but we need additional effort. There has been discussion for almost a year about additional capital supports to the hospital. None of them have been provided. We have HSE estates talking about new designs but nothing has been delivered and there are no project managers or funding. I ask the Government to give us the additional cardiac day beds.

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