David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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725. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to extend the PPCI service at university hospital Waterford; the way in which this service will be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54585/17]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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727. To ask the Minister for Health his views on whether extending the opening hours of the cath lab at university hospital Waterford for PPCI requires an additional laboratory; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54587/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 725 and 727 together.

Funding of €0.5 million was allocated in 2017 for cardiology services in University Hospital Waterford (UHW), as recommended in the Herity report, to increase planned cath lab sessions by 20%. I requested that the HSE maximise the benefit for patients from the €0.5m 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 has been deployed for the short term provision of cardiac diagnostic angiogram services on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford from 2 October 2017 for a period of 20 weeks and is currently providing a scheduled diagnostic angiography service on a 3 day per week basis.

The HSE has advised that the process for the recruitment of staff in order to support extension of the operating hours of the existing cath lab by 20%, as recommended in the Herity report, has commenced with the increase in hours of the existing cath lab to come into effect once the contract for the mobile cath lab ceases (after 12 February, 2018).

Furthermore, in July 2017, I agreed to expedite the commencement of the national review of all PPCI services, encompassing the South East region. One of the guiding principles for this review is to strive to provide a PPCI service that can deliver clinical outcomes on a par with international standards. The Steering Group for this National Review has now been established and the first meeting will occur on 31 January 2018. The Chair of the Steering Group is Professor Philip Nolan, President of Maynooth University. The National Review aims to report to the Minister within 12-18 months of its first meeting. The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services will examine all activity in cardiac catheterisation laboratories nationally. This will include the activity data from the mobile lab in UHW.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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726. To ask the Minister for Health the number of hours and days the cath lab at University Hospital Waterford was out of commission or not in use during the normal opening hours for PPCI (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2017; the reason for it being out of commission or not in use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54586/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.