David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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1021. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to put in place a mobile cath laboratory for University Hospital Waterford as confirmed by the Minister for State in an interview (details supplied); the cost of such a measure; the staffing arrangements; the report, internal or external or both, which led to this plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41617/16]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In recent weeks, the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) has made very significant progress to address cardiology waiting lists at University Hospital Waterford (UHW). Waiting list data, compiled and published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) earlier this week, provide evidence that the cardiology waiting list at the hospital has reduced by almost 20% since the end of November, and the number of persons waiting longer than a year has reduced by some 66%. By year end, a total of 489 patients remained on the NTPF list, with no patient waiting longer than 18 months.

The focus on the cardiology waiting list will continue in 2017. The SSWHG has a robust plan in place to address the remaining backlog which involves access to cath lab capacity across the region. In addition, as recommended in the Herity Report, an additional €.5m funding has been provided to UHW in 2017 which will enable the hospital to provide 2 additional cath lab sessions (8 hours) per week. I am advised that patients waiting over 12 months will have their procedures completed in the first 8 weeks of 2017; patients waiting 3 – 12 months will have their procedures completed by June 2017.

Budget 2017 makes specific provision for those patients waiting longest for treatment within the health service. In this context, I am considering a national cardiology waiting list initiative which will address waiting times for cardiology treatments in a number of hospitals, including UHW. A range of measures are envisaged including sharing of facilities and resources amongst public hospitals, use of private facilities and the deployment of a mobile cath lab for specific periods in specific locations. Further detail will be available in the coming weeks.