Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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155. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the development of a business case for a modular catheterisation laboratory for the south east; the decision date for the business case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27146/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Following an independent review of the need for a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford, the Herity report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population for Waterford University Hospital could be accommodated within a single cath lab. Funding has been provided to support extension of the existing cath lab operating hours to 12 weekly sessions per week, or by 20%, as recommended in the Herity Report. The HSE has advised approval and funding has been provided for the posts required to facilitate this service expansion and recruitment is currently being progressed by local management and the HSE’s National Recruitment Service. A mobile cath lab has been deployed since October 2017, initially for a period of 20 weeks but since extended to allow time for University Hospital Waterford to complete recruitment of the additional staff required for the service extension to the existing cath lab.

The aim of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services, which has been underway since January, is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service. The anticipated timeline is 18 months although the Chair will seek to expedite the submission of the Final Report if possible.

As set out in the National Development Plan 2018-2027, investment in cardiac catheterisation laboratories and other cardiac services infrastructure nationally will be informed by the outcome of the National Review.

The Deputy might wish to note that I met with South East Oireachtas members on 14 February and indicated that I would give some consideration to the various issues raised by the group, including the potential for the deployment of a modular cath lab, as an interim solution, pending the outcome of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. My Department is currently examining this matter at my request and it is envisaged that this examination will be completed shortly.