Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Cummins for giving me the opportunity to update the House on this matter, a really important issue on which the Senator and I have worked tirelessly for many years. The Minister for Health and I are fully committed to supporting our cardiac services nationally and cardiovascular health in general, which is a valuable part of our health service.

I acknowledge the commitment made by this Government recognising it has invested significantly in UHW. I also acknowledge the significant developments in cardiac services delivered by UHW and commend the staff on their continued commitment and dedication to providing specialised cardiac care. I stand here proudly in this House with the Senator asking the question and speak about the pride we have in UHW, which is one of the best performing hospitals in the country.

In 2019, University Hospital Waterford had a budget of €201 million. In 2024, that budget is more than €290 million, meaning it has grown by €89 million. That is a 44% increase in the lifetime of this Government. This is only right as there are more pressures on acute hospitals to deliver more services. We have an ageing and growing population.

UHW is the largest employer in Waterford city and county. Staffing at the hospital has grown by 841 since the end of December 2019, from 1,949 to 2,805 in May. This represents an increase in staffing of 44%, including 47 more consultants, 100 additional non-consultant hospital doctors, 370 more nurses and midwives, as well as 123 additional health and social care professionals. As part of this investment in workforce increase, there has been a focus on developing cardiac cath lab services at the hospital. In September 2022, the opening hours for the original cath lab in UHW were extended to 8 a.m to 8 p.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

I am pleased to say that the programme of Government committed to a second cath lab in UHW, with a capital investment of almost €8 million. The second cath lab opened on 4 September 2023 and operates five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Notwithstanding the difficult recruitment environment impacting the healthcare sector, 24 whole-time equivalents were provided to support the opening of the second cath lab. They were all in place in 2023. There were 37 whole-time equivalents approved to support initiatives at UHW. These were included in the first round of new development funding for 2024 and in the pay and numbers strategy for 2024. Permission has been granted by the Minister to commence recruitment for these positions and it is now an operational issue for the HSE to do so.

On Tuesday morning, I spoke to the general manager, Mr. Ben O'Sullivan, who was pleased to have received sanction to commence recruitment immediately to implement weekend cover in the cath lab. I also had that confirmed by Mr. Damien McCallion, HSE chief operating officer, who has oversight of the pay and numbers strategy. There has been criticism that some timelines have been lost, but I operate in good faith with the information I receive. I have a duty, as does the Senator, to inform the public in Waterford on what is a matter of huge importance to us all. I cannot withhold the information and just see what happens. I was given the information in good faith at the start of the year. Unfortunately, it has taken longer than we would have liked for the pay and numbers strategy to filter down to the hospitals. The good news is that recruitment is commencing immediately. Having spoken to the general manager of the hospital, his indicative timeline is a three-month focus to have services in place some time in October.