James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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595. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to approve a 24/7 catheterisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford; the position regarding the recruitment of a consultant interventional cardiologist at the hospital; if a second catheterisation laboratory at the hospital will be equipped to carry out interventional cardiology services; when the national cardiac services review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8730/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In 2016, the Herity Report concluded that the needs of the effective catchment population of University Hospital Waterford (UHW) could be accommodated from a single cath lab and recommended that the operating hours of the existing cath lab should be extended.  

The HSE has advised that an additional Consultant Interventional Cardiologist post to support a seven (7) day; 8 am – 8 pm service in the existing Cath Lab was advertised by the Public Appointment Service on 27 September 2019. Interviews for this position took place on 27 January 2020 and the post is now at the final stages of recruitment through the Public Appointment Services and will be filled very soon. 

I remain committed to the provision of a second cath lab in University Hospital Waterford.  As set out in the HSE’s options appraisal, the preferred option is for a second cath lab and associated 12 bed day ward (delivering six additional beds) on the roof of the existing Cardiology Department, which will operate five days per week and provide diagnostic services only.  

The HSE has advised that funding was allocated in the 2019 Capital Plan for the provision of second Cath Lab at University Hospital Waterford, planning permission is in place for this project, preparation of contract documentation has commenced and contractor selection is underway.  The HSE anticipates that the project will go to tender before late July and it is expected that construction will commence in October with a 10-12 month programme.  

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 arranging for a National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services. 

The National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services commenced in January 2018 under the Chairmanship of Professor Phillip Nolan and a Steering Group was formed from nominations from interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives.  

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.  

Site visits to the 6 Primary PCI Centre’s along with Beaumont Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital and St Vincent’s University Hospital have taken place.  International site visits to the Royal Victoria Hospital Belfast and the Golden Jubilee Hospital, Glasgow have also been undertaken. HRB-CICER have also completed their Evidence Synthesis review on their four research questions and submitted their final report to the Steering Group. 

I am anxious for this Review to be completed in the context of the National Development Plan and Sláintecare so that decisions can be made with regards to the continued investment and upgrading of Specialist Cardiac Services in Ireland. While it is hoped that the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services can be completed in the near future, unfortunately the impact of COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on its progression.