Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have written to the Secretary General of the Department of Health three times this year requesting a meeting to discuss the issues affecting University Hospital Waterford, UHW. The Secretary General has proved himself good value for his €292,000 annual salary. He declined to meet me, but responded by saying that he was aware of the issues I wanted to raise. In such circumstances, I assume the Government is also aware of them. I do not wish to discuss the exclusion of UHW from €650 million of capital funding, nor the failure to approve two hospital consultant posts to the emergency department as per a HIQA report nor the continuing failure to reimburse UHW for the Wexford hospital activity. However, I point out that in three and a half years of this Government we have only improved cardiac access to 60 hours from 40 hours in the south east. Will the Taoiseach reassert his Government's commitment to fund the opening of the seven-day service for the cath lab at UHW by Christmas?

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