The hours of the Cath Lab at University Hospital Waterford, are set to be slightly extended at the beginning of March.
The lab is currently operating a 9-5 Monday to Friday Service for patients in need of emergency cardiac treatment.
However, that will now be extended from 8am to 8pm on weekdays from the beginning of next month.
The news was announced by the General Manager of UHW during a meeting with South East Oireachtas members today.
Waterford Junior Minister, Mary Butler says that by the end of the year, they are aiming to operate the cath lab seven days a week:
"When the second cath lab is completed, it will be commissioned and services will then move to seven days a week, 8am to 8pm.
"Obviously, in order to deliver these services recruitment of staff is very, very important and it's very important that you would have the necessary consultant diagnostic cardiologists in place.
"That's currently the challenge so recruitment is on-going there."
While news that the service will move to a seven day service, campaigners will hope it's only a stepping stone to 24/7 care.
However, Minister Butler says the obstacle to that is still staffing issue.
One cardiac consultant is currently being recruited, to bring the number at the local hospital up to 5.6 whole-time equivalents (whole- and part-timers).
There are 3.6 whole-time equivalents at the moment who do intervention work and then one consultant who does diagnostic work only.
Speaking to WLR News, Minister Butler said they need to increase that number again in order to provide a 24/7 cardiac care service:
"The general manager did point out quite clearly that to move to full 24/7 you would need between seven and eight interventional cardiologists.
"So, when we recruit this person soon, we will have moved to 4.6 posts. We need to get to seven or eight posts.
"But as I said, the business case in relation to staffing of the second cath lab is being considered currently."
