Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I had asked that he come in to us today. I welcome my colleague, Senator Mary Butler, who has fought tirelessly for a 24-hour cardiac unit for Waterford hospital.

Both I and my party send deepest sympathies to Mr. Thomas Power's widow and family on their tragic loss. Thomas Power was in the prime of life, newly married and expecting his first child later this year. His death in an ambulance en route to Cork hospital following a cardiac incident has brought into sharp focus the lack of 24-hour cardiac care in the south east and requires an immediate and independent review of the case. We want to be clear that the people of Waterford and the south east deserve a 24-hour cardiac unit but also for a second cath lab to be established.

Many questions must be asked both in the context of the individual case and the broader issues. Was Mr. Power seen by a consultant who had travelled in the ambulance when he was being dispatched to Cork and were all protocols followed in the normal procedure of transferring a patient? That is the issue which really needs to be addressed in this individual case, for which we must have a full clinical review. We need to get to the bottom of this and learn from this tragedy. It must never happen again.

Some 170,000 people, including people who live in my locality of Carlow, are more than 90 minutes away from an acute cardiac service. This is because there is no 24-hour service in Waterford. There is considerable fear and anxiety in communities throughout the south east. This particular tragedy has brought fear to many. For years, those who have campaigned for 24-hour cardiac care, including the delivery of a second cath lab, have warned about the dangers of transporting patients after hours to Cork for treatment. The Herity report's recommendation can no longer be used by the Minister to justify not delivering 24-hour cardiac care in Waterford. We in Fianna Fáil believe these recommendations are flawed. The Herity report uses the 90-minute mark as though it is a target, not a limit.

Dr. Herity was before the health committee here last February. My colleague, Senator Swanick, asked him if he believed that our lives were in danger in the absence of a second cath lab and a 24-hour service. Dr. Herity responded that he did not think so. Senator Swanick disagreed with him.The expert report, the Higgins report, recommended in 2013 that Waterford Regional Hospital continue to provide a cardiology service for the south-eastern population and extend its services. This report appears to have been discounted for the sake of the 2016 Herity report. I have significant concerns about this. The Minister has two reports and is saying he is opting for the second. My colleague, Deputy Mary Butler, and I are not happy about this and it is uncalled for. It is simply not acceptable that time restrictions play such a role in the day-to-day lives of the people. The issue of cardiology cover at Waterford Regional Hospital is so sensitive. If any patient presents with a cardiac issue outside opening hours, his or her only option is to take an ambulance to Cork. There are in place what I would call office hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Someone should not have a heart attack outside these hours because, if he or she does, he or she will have to go to Cork. Statistics show that 80% of heart attacks happen after 5 p.m.

The death of Mr. Power was a huge shock to those living in Waterford and the rest of the south east, but, unfortunately, it did not come as a surprise. Those of us campaigning for a second cath lab and 24-hour cardiac care have been warning for years about the danger of transporting patients by ambulance for treatment. Dr. Paddy Owens, consultant, among other cardiologists, warned time and again that a death would happen. It has and is one death too many. It can never be allowed to happen again.

Why is our hospital the only one in the south east without 24-hour cover? There is a population of 170,000 in the south east and we have no 24-hour cardiac care service. That is unacceptable. The solution is additional resources in the form of a second cath lab with sufficient staff to resource it. The solution is also to have 24-hour cardiac care in Waterford. This would save lives and reduce waiting lists. The budget for health is extremely large, amounting to €14 billion. We are talking about a captial investment of €2.6 million and €2 million in running costs annually.

Dr. Herity appeared before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and was questioned about three issues, namely, the catchment area, the commute time between Waterford and Cork and the single point of failure that we saw at first hand at the weekend. What occurred can never be allowed to happen again. It is shameful. My colleague, Deputy Mary Butler, who represents Waterford and I believe we really need to have a 24-hour service in Waterford. There is a service available from Monday to Friday that should be extended. People are living longer and it is crucial that a service be provided in Waterford and for the rest of the south east. I thank the Minister.