Large crowds are expected in Waterford city later this afternoon for a protest calling for 24/7 cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford.

The South East Broken Hearts rally gets underway from the Glen at 1.45pm and will finish in John Roberts Square.

Waterford Metropolitan Mayor Joe Kelly said it’s a vital protest. “This issue is too important for anyone to stop and leave it to someone else this is your issue, it’s my issue,” said Waterford Metropolitan Mayor, Cllr Joe Kelly. “If we unfortunately have a heart attack in the hours where we don’t have cardiac cover, then we’re in serious trouble. It could be any of us and that’s the sad truth of it, it has directly affected too many people so far.”

Meanwhile, a Waterford Independent councillor says two cardiac patients being transferred to Cork in the middle of the night is extremely worrying.

It emerged this week that two patients, who suffered heart attacks, had to be brought in separate ambulances in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Councillor Matt Shanahan, who is also chair of Health Equality for the South East, said incidents such as those are why campaigners want people to turn out today: “This is all to highlight what is an indefensible policy at this stage.”