Joe Conway (Independent) | Oireachtas source

These are three patients who did not have to travel to Cork or Dublin but received timely and appropriate emergency care in Waterford's national cardiac centre. This is one of the things we, as public representatives, have supported for a long time, that the 24-7 service in Waterford would be expanded fully. I can confidently predict that UHW's cardiac cath lab numbers, even on the seven-day rota, will increase and answer the challenges that exist. There will be no let-up in this service delivered, with a fairer allocation of healthcare to regional units.

I thank all of the people in both Houses, and the public representatives in all the surrounding counties that are served by University Hospital Waterford, for their steadfast support over the years. We want to push on with ensuring we have a full 24-7 service and that people will not be put at risk at the weekend. It was said in Waterford that it was fatal to have a heart attack in the Waterford region between 5 o'clock on Friday evening and 8 o'clock on Monday morning because, by the time a person was brought to a hospital in Cork or Dublin, their chances of survival were small. Now that the cath lab is operating in Waterford, such a situation is obviated because we have close to a proper service in the area. I am delighted to record that for the House and thank all those who have supported this matter.