Written answers

Tuesday, 4 October 2016

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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367. To ask the Minister for Health when University Hospital Waterford was designated as a percutaneous coronary intervention centre, providing partial 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. emergency PCCI care; the staffing requirements necessary to provide this service; the population serviced, detailed by geographical area and population numbers; the current staff complement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28104/16]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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368. To ask the Minister for Health if a business case for a second catheterisation laboratory was submitted to the HSE or his Department by University Hospital Waterford; the way in which this case was processed; and the action taken by his Department and the HSE following the business case submission. [28105/16]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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369. To ask the Minister for Health if University Hospital Waterford was placed on a risk register in respect of cardiology services; the changes which were made to the risk assessment from 2012 to date in 2016; the rationale for any risk assessment changes; the way in which the process works; the person which carries out the risk assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28106/16]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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370. To ask the Minister for Health if design plans, including sketches, were drawn up for a second catheterisation laboratory in University Hospital Waterford; if a design team was appointed; the names of the design team; if he will provide the details of the design and all sketches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28107/16]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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371. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide the design team sketches or plans for the building of a second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; and if any plan or sketch involved the moving of the orthodontic unit at the hospital. [28108/16]

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health if, following the submission of a business case and a design plan for a second catheterisation laboratory for University Hospital Waterford, the associated process has resulted in the hospital being in a queue for capital funding for same. [28109/16]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 to 372, inclusive, together.

In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Photo of David CullinaneDavid Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Health the meaning of the south east, as defined by a commitment in a report (details supplied) that University Hospital Waterford would provide invasive cardiology services to the south east; the way in which the south east is defined geographically and by population; the meaning of invasive cardiology services and the services which constitute as invasive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28110/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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436. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the particular aspects of the Herity report that he intends to implement; when these additional services will be provided to University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28446/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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437. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his views on whether clinicians in the south east have as much to offer in terms of clinical knowledge as a person (details supplied); his views on whether, as valued employees of the HSE, they should be afforded the opportunity to sit down and discuss the findings of the Herity report with him; if he will agree to such a meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28447/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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438. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his views on whether an increase of eight hours per week will have any real impact on the waiting times for cardiac patients in University Hospital Waterford in view of the fact that the consultants are already working up to 7.30 p.m. or 8 p.m. at night on a regular basis to deal with the cases they are currently struggling to cope with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28448/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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439. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the increased equipment noted in the Herity report was solely for an image intensifier and that there are three other components of the laboratory; furthermore, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some €240,000 has been spent on the existing catheterisation laboratory recently to ensure this equipment is supportable; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the existing laboratory is currently up to specification and fully operational for at least the next five years; his views on whether the quality of the existing laboratory is not the issue but rather the capacity of the existing laboratory and its ability to offer a clinically safe service in its isolation is very much the concern of the clinicians in the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28449/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether the lack of a second catheterisation laboratory was noted on the risk register at the highest possible risk rating since 2013 in line with the HSE recommendations and that the Irish national programme for heart failure treatment actually requires a second laboratory in all units providing acute heart attack care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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442. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the reason for the discrepancy between the HSE findings of the past three years, which clearly indicate a critical need for a second catheterisation laboratory at the University Hospital Waterford site documented at national level and the subsequent failure to recommend same in the Herity report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28452/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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443. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the reason he felt it unnecessary to forward the two terms of reference put forward by the clinicians in Waterford which particularly references the clinical risk to the patient as their main focus in seeking a second catheterisation laboratory for the south east region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28453/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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444. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention was drawn to the contents of the briefing document which was forwarded to a person (details supplied) in conjunction with the terms of reference prior to the report being drafted; when he became aware of the document; his views on whether this document drafted by the HSE unfairly directs the author on which direction the report should take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28454/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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445. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the reason the mid-west region with a catchment, at the time of delivery, of circa 310,000 persons was awarded a second laboratory without the need for a clinical review; if his attention was drawn to the fact that his predecessor had incorrectly indicated that this region had received the second laboratory on the basis of a clinical review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28455/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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446. To ask the Minister for Health to set out details of the clinical review under which additional resources for Cork University Hospital was announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28456/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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447. To ask the Minister for Health if liability for adverse clinical events occurring as a result of inadequate resourcing will rest with him, his Department or the author of the report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28457/16]

Photo of John HalliganJohn Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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448. To ask the Minister for Health to outline his views on whether clinicians at University Hospital Waterford will not be held responsible for any direct or indirect consequences caused to patients due to the continuing lack of a second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford or any later implementation of the Herity report or parts thereof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28458/16]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 436 to 440 and 442 to 448, inclusive, together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for a Partnership Government committed to the development of a second Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford, (UHW) subject to a favourable recommendation from an independent clinical review of the needs of the region. The review was undertaken by Dr Niall Herity, a highly respected, Belfast based NHS cardiologist. It is a comprehensive report which reflects the fact that Dr Herity consulted widely and met with all of the key stakeholders including the management and staff of both UHW and Cork University Hospital.

Dr Herity has made clear recommendations that a second cardiac cath lab at UHW is not justified and I accept this. However, he also recommends investing in UHW to enhance the existing cardiology services including increasing the number of weekly sessions currently provided, in order to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. He also recommends that new specialist equipment be provided to improve contingency for radiological equipment failure during a procedure. I am happy to provide the additional resources necessary to implement these recommendations. This investment will be reflected in the HSE National Service Plan for 2017.

Dr Herity also recommends that some services be provided elsewhere. However, in order to do this a number of operational processes will have to first be embedded. I want to be certain that any change to how a service is delivered will result in improved services for the patients using that service. Therefore, I have asked my Department to address the implications of ceasing primary PCI services at UHW by undertaking a national review of all primary PCI services with the aim to ensure that as many patients as possible have access to a 24/7 basis to safe and sustainable emergency interventions following a heart attack. I expect the review to be completed by the end of July 2017.

The Report on the Establishment of Hospital Groups notes that UHW should continue to provide invasive cardiology services for the population of the South East in collaboration with the cardiology service in Cork. The patient flow analysis detailed in Dr Herity's report provides evidence that the Cath Lab in UHW is currently providing services to the population of the South East and, in particular, to residents of counties Wexford, Waterford and South Tipperary. Implementation of Dr Herity's report will provide improved cardiology services for the South East and will strengthen links between clinicians in UHW and Cork University Hospital.

I intend to visit UHW next month and I will take the opportunity to speak with staff and management on a broad range of issues.

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