John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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188. To ask the Minister for Health if he had read the Higgins report in conjunction with the Herity report prior to making his decision not to approve the much needed second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; if he will acknowledge that the Higgins report which set out the basis of the reconfiguration of the hospital groups made specific commitments to UHW and the south-east region as a whole, particularly in relation to cardiology services, that the Government at the time also made commitments to stand over the Higgins report; if it is the intention of the Department of Health to continue to comply with and implement the recommendations of the Higgins report, specifically its recommendation to maintain UHW as a level four regional hospital and its recommendation with respect to the expansion of interventional cardiology at UHW; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28881/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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 the report of Dr. Herity's independent clinical review, 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. I am confident that implementation of Dr. Herity's report will provide improved, and safer cardiology services for the South East and will strengthen links between clinicians in UHW and Cork University Hospital.

The Deputy will be aware that I have accepted Dr. Herity's recommendation that a second cardiac cath lab at UHW is not justified. I have also accepted his recommendation for investment in UHW to enhance the existing cardiology service there. This investment will be reflected in the HSE National Service Plan for 2017. During this period of investment and enhancement of services, the situation will be closely monitored. A further independent review will be carried out in early 2017 to assess the impact that these improvements have had on the volume of patients attending the cath lab.

Before we can implement Dr. Herity recommendation that some emergency services be provided elsewhere, it will first be necessary to ensure that a number of operational processes are 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 on 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.

Beyond Dr. Herity's report, I am delighted to see UHW's plans to develop the hospital as a centre for orthopaedic excellence. I am fully committed to supporting UHW's plans in relation to this and for the centralisation of orthopaedic services for the people of the South East. The Deputy can be assured of the Government's commitment to the development of services at UHW as evidenced by the recent approval of two new academic posts for UHW, namely Professor of Orthopaedics and Professor of Oncology.