A Waterford TD says all cardiac procedures in Waterford are now taking place at UPMC Whitfield.
The cath lab at University Hospital Waterford relocated to Whitfield in February to facilitate the upgrade of equipment.
The mobile cath lab at UHW was removed recently due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane says he's spoken to hospital management:
"We're being told that the mobile facility can't be used because of the Covid restrictions and there was a significant cost on a monthly basis for having the mobile cath lab insitu; so for that reason hospital management, and I would imagine the HSE, decided not to renew the contact and the mobile lab has been removed. My understanding is that all cardiac procedures in Waterford are now being carried out in Whitfield, none are being carried out at University Hospital Waterford.
"I've been told that the upgrade works on the main cath lab at the hospital will recommence shortly. It was stopped due to the Covid restrictions but there is now a plan in place to reschedule that works again as soon as possible. I've also been told that there was no changes to the emergency PPCI work; that's still being done Monday to Friday in the hours that it was normally done, but it's being carried out in Whitfield clinic."
Deputy Cullinane says this information should have been made publicly available:
"I think it is regrettable that the information wasn't publicly made available, given to Oireachtas members, but also made available to the public so people know exactly what is happening, where the services are located and what services are available."
