The long awaited Cath Lab for University Hospital Waterford is just weeks away from opening - with no bed allocation.
Thats according to Waterford TD Matt Shanahan who says the only beds, are those that already exist in the hospital.
He says a 12 bed day ward was promised for the 24 hour Cath Lab at UHW.
Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Shanahan says its like having a car with no engine.
"I count 51 days to the end of the Taoiseach's premiership. Many commitments were made to Waterford and the south east in that time but one is paramount, namely, 24-7 cardiac care. We are just weeks away from a formal handover of the second cath lab in Waterford and we have no bed allocation other than the existing allocation within the hospital to service that cath lab. In essence, we are getting a Rolls-Royce with no engine. A 12-bed day ward was promised. I have engaged with the HSE for almost two years. We have spoken about modular space, capital remediation and moving out community services but we have done nothing in that time to deliver these beds and we cannot open the cath lab without having beds. In these remaining days, will the Taoiseach give a commitment through the Department of the Taoiseach to expedite some framework that we can get beds allocated to this unit?".
Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly was unhappy with Deputy Shanahan's comments and interjected.
"I look forward to the day when the Deputy stands up and says - 'We asked for a second cath lab and we got it.' And "we asked for a lot more staff and we got them". And "we asked for more beds in the hospital and we got them". And "we asked for more services in the region and we got them". The Deputy is aware-----
"It is no good without beds. Be factual. You cannot run a service. We are still asking" - said Deputy Shanahan in response.
The Minister then called upon the Waterford TD to have the courtesy to allow him to answer the question - to which he responded - "You cannot run a service without beds. The patients need beds. That is a ridiculous statement to make about beds."
"I do not think the Deputy is interested." - conceded Minister Donnelly, before Taoiseach Micheal Martin intervened.
"If I could say a wee bit, we have done everything we possibly can to accelerate this. We are doing it. We will also provide the beds as well."
