David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. The issue I wish to raise is the need to provide 24-7 cardiology services at University Hospital Waterford. Many people in Waterford city and county and across the south-east region have been involved in a long-standing campaign to secure improved cardiology services at the hospital, including the replacement of the current service which operates office hours with a service providing full-time cover. The previous Minister for Health promised to establish such a service as part of the reconfiguration process which involved Waterford and Cork university hospitals amalgamating in a new hospital group. A shift to 24-7 cover in University Hospital Waterford was regarded as a major plank of this configuration process. Unfortunately, the Higgins report did not specifically spell out the delivery of such a commitment and refers simply to enhanced and improved cardiology services in Waterford. On the other hand, the Minister made a clear commitment on 24-7 cover in his public announcements.

Last week, I met representatives of the management of University Hospital Waterford who indicated they did not envisage 24-7 cardiology services being delivered at the hospital in the short, medium or long term. They cited a national review of cardiology services which may result in the centralisation of cardiology services through the provision of full 24-7 cardiology cover in larger population centres such as Dublin, Cork and Galway. However, they stated it was unlikely that other regions, including Waterford, would secure additional cardiologists, support staff or resources to enable them to provide 24-7 cover. I am not being alarmist in this matter as management also defended the current system as safe and indicated that it was acceptable to airlift people to Cork, where necessary, because they can be transported in a timely fashion. This view does not wash with those who living in Waterford who may suffer a cardiac arrest and want assurance that they will be treated as quickly as possible in the nearest hospital. While I accept that specialist services cannot be provided in all locations, University Hospital Waterford is a regional centre providing services to a large population base in counties Kilkenny, Wexford and Tipperary as well as Waterford city and county. A 24-7 cardiology service is needed for the entire region and should be located in Waterford.

Is management at University Hospital Waterford wrong? Is it Government policy to provide 24-7 cardiology cover in Waterford Regional Hospital? If so, when will the service be introduced and the necessary resources provided? What new interventional cardiologist posts, additional resources and capacity will be provided? Will the Minister of State clarify once and for all whether 24-7 cardiology cover will be delivered in University Hospital Waterford ? The answer is either "Yes" or "No". The previous and current Ministers have fudged on this issue by using vague language and giving vague commitments. The Government and Department should be clear on this issue, one way or another, as the service will or will not be delivered. At least if the Government were honest about the issue, we could consider how to step up the campaign for a full-time cardiology service. I ask the Minister of State to indicate what is the Government's policy on this matter, what resources will be provided and if she is able to tell people in Waterford and the south east whether they will have 24-7 cardiology services in future.