David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether it is possible to provide 24-7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention, PPCI, at University Hospital Waterford with a single catheterisation laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31522/17]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to rule out ceasing primary percutaneous coronary intervention, PCI, services at University Hospital Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31523/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.

The Programme for Government committed to the development of a second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), subject to a favourable recommendation from an independent clinical review. This independent clinical review was completed by Dr. Niall Herity, one of the foremost cardiologists on these islands and a doctor of international repute. Dr Herity concluded that the needs of the effective UHW catchment population could be accommodated from a single cath lab. However, he recommended investment to enhance cardiac services at the hospital to address waiting times and to provide improved access for patients. Accordingly, an additional €500,000 has been allocated to the hospital for 2017 to provide two additional cath lab sessions per week. This entails an additional eight hours provision per week or a 20% expansion in operating hours. It is expected that this capacity will facilitate the provision of an increased volume of scheduled cardiology care at the hospital. I have asked the HSE to maximise the benefit for patients from that funding, in respect of both additional sessions at the existing cath lab and the temporary use of a mobile cath lab for a specific period. The mobile cath lab is currently being procured in line with the normal HSE procurement process.

Dr. Herity further recommended that the UHW cath lab should operate as an elective lab which provides all specialised cardiac services except interventional treatment for patients who are having heart attacks (PPCI), and that the current 9 to 5 provision of these services should cease in order to allow the hospital to focus on the much larger volume of planned cath lab work. This is because highly specialised services such as primary PCI need to be carried out in a small number of hospitals where the volume of patients supports the provision of a safe service.

However, as Minister for Health, I want to be sure that any service changes that are implemented will result in improved services for patients. Therefore, I have asked my Department to address the implications of Dr. Herity's recommendations by undertaking a national review of all PPCI services, with the aim of ensuring that as many patients as possible have access, on a 24/7 basis, to safe and sustainable emergency interventions following a heart attack.