Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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254. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to reduce waiting times for the critical diagnostic test for heart valve disease and most other cardiac conditions, known as an echocardiogram, to the target time of 18 weeks for all referrals and two weeks for urgent referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47458/22]

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

The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to recommend configuration for a national adult cardiac service to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality and sustainability of the services that patients receive. This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults and considers cardiac diagnostic procedures such as echocardiogram.

The COVID-19 Pandemic impacted on the progress of the review during 2020 and into 2021 as the Chair of the Cardiac Services Review has played a key role in the national COVID-19 response.

Substantial progress has been made on the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services since the Steering Group reconvened in September 2021 and it is currently in its concluding stages. The Steering Group met most recently in September and is due to meet again in October where recommendations will be finalised and the Report will be sent to the Minister for consideration