Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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403. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the provision timeline for a second catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford in order to deal with waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22940/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government committed to the development of a second cath lab at the hospital, subject to a favourable recommendation from an independent clinical review. This independent clinical review was completed by Dr. Niall Herity, a highly respected, Belfast-based NHS cardiologist. Dr Herity concluded that the needs of the effective University Hospital Waterford catchment population could be accommodated from a single cath lab.

However, he recommended investment to enhance cardiac services at the hospital and to provide an additional 8 hours cath lab activity per week to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. At the time of the report's publication, I committed to providing additional resources to UHW. In this regard, an additional €500,000 has been allocated to the hospital for 2017.