Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

312. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in approving the retention of the mobile temporary diagnostic cath lab at Waterford University Hospital; the date when approval issued to the hospital to renew the contract for the mobile lab; if appointments for diagnosis were cancelled which could have been dealt with by the mobile lab; if contract staff operating the lab were redeployed during this period; if a full complement of staff is now available to operate the mobile lab; if the mobile lab was out of operation for periods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19886/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The mobile cath lab was initially deployed in October 2017 and it was agreed on 23 April that it should stay in place for a further number of weeks while recruitment efforts continue to support extension of the existing cath lab operating hours to 12 sessions per week, or by 20%, as recommended in the Herity Report. In regard to the detail of the service issues raised, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.