Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding his commitment to examine a number of proposals to improve cardiac care in the south east, including the deployment of a modular laboratory that will allow for diagnostic angiograms and intervention procedures; the position regarding efforts by UHW management to recruit additional staff to extend the operation of the existing cath lab by 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28380/18]

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.

As I advised the Deputy in my response to his most recent Parliamentary Question on 29 May last, 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 Herity report also recommended that the current 9 to 5 provision of emergency pPCI services should cease to allow the hospital focus on the much larger volume of planned work. I asked my Department to address the implications of this recommendation by undertaking a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. The aim of this Review 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. 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, which is expected to be complete by June 2019.

When I met with South East Oireachtas members on 14 February last, I 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.