Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the ongoing development of University Hospital Waterford. Significant additional resources have been allocated to the hospital in recent years to meet the needs of patients. Staffing at the hospital is now approx. 2,707 WTE (November 2023), an increase of 39% since December 2019. The hospital’s budget has increased by 33.3% since 2019 to €268.3 million in 2023, a significant increase in funding in this time period.

The Programme for Government committed to the delivery of a second Cath Lab in University Hospital Waterford (UHW). The second Cath Lab opened on the 4th of September and operates 5 days per week, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The opening hours for the first Cath Lab were extended to 8am – 8pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) in Sept 2022.

The HSE has advised that future cardiac developments at the hospital will be guided by the publication of the National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services (NRCS) and its findings. The National Review of Adult Specialist Cardiac Services, Chaired by Prof Philip Nolan commenced in 2018. A Steering Group formed from nominations of interested stakeholders representing medical, professional/technical staff, nursing and patient representatives contributed to the review.

The aim of the Cardiac Services Review is to recommend a configuration for a national adult cardiac service to achieve optimal patient outcomes at the 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 seeks to enhance existing services and optimise their delivery across a region.

The Review faced considerable disruption during the pandemic and completed its work in 2023. The report is finalised, I have reviewed it and a memo for Government is being prepared. The recommendations of the review have been designed to inform the future provision of cardiac services nationally.