'Everybody has a heart story' - Waterford TDs question cardiac care in the Southeast
"Everybody has a heart story" is how one Waterford TD described the cardiac care service in Waterford.
Securing eight-to-eight cardiac care seven days a week is crucial for Waterford according to Green Party TD Marc O'Cathasaigh who was questioning minister Mary Butler at leader's questions in the Dail last week.
The current projection by the Fianna Fail TD is that full 8:00 a:m - 8:00 p:m 7-day service will be in place by Christmas, but not full cardiac care. The cath labs are currently operational Monday-Friday 8:00 a:m - 8:00 p:m. He says most people in Waterford are touched in one way or another by the lack of full cardiac care.
"Minister Donnelly was down with us recently when he opened the palliative care facilities on the site of UHW. He gave a commitment that in a short frame of time, we are going to move to a seven-day-a-week service, running 8:00 a:m - 8:00 p:m."
"Everybody in Waterford and the Southeast has a heart story"
The Green Party TD continued, "Everybody in Waterford and the Southeast has a heart story, the friend who just about made it within the operating hours or the person who didn't. We know it as a mantra in Waterford with the campaigners..Time is a muscle."
Commitment remains
In response, Minister for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler says her party remains committed to the delivery.
"At a recent visit to the hospital in July, the minister asked the hospital to work towards an 8-8 service at the second cath lab at the hospital by year-end 2023. That is where the situation is and the onus is on all of us, me as minister of state in the Department of Health, and working with all my colleagues to deliver it incrementally."
Sinn Féin Health Spokesperson and Waterford TD David Cullinane was also present for the leader's questions.
He said, "Obviously the next question is can we transition into a full 24/7 cardiac service? I think the answer to that question will lie in the National Review which I have to say has been sitting somewhere for a long time.
"I don't know how many times I have asked the question, so we really need to get an update on when that review will be published because I think the answer to that question will really project what is next for UHW."
Minister Mary Butler responded saying work has progressed significantly at the hospital in recent months with the opening of the second cath lab, but it will be a gradual basis on delivery of full 24/7 cardiac care.
"In order for the new cath lab to open, we needed 24 whole-time equivalents. 21 are in place and at a time when recruitment is challenging across all health services, but [the opening of the second lab] is very positive.
"Two more health care assistants are being interviewed today, and the recruitment campaign for the senior cardiac psychologist, one of three for the second cath lab is underway.
"So at a time when recruitment is challenging across all sectors, it is positive news."
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