A Waterford TD says plans to temporarily close the Cath Lab at University Hospital Waterford won’t be signed off on until there are contingency plans in place.

There were fears that the single permanent lab would be closed for at least 12 weeks to facilitate the upgrading of equipment.

Fianna Fail’s Mary Butler says a high-level meeting involving all the key stakeholders took place at the hospital this morning.

She spoke to Dr Gerard O’Callaghan the Chief Operating Officer of the South/South West Hospital Group afterwards.

“He tasked the cardiologists with coming up with a detailed plan, by Wednesday of next week, as to how they would provide a service to the people of Waterford and the South East if the permanent lab was not in use for a number of weeks.”

The Consultant Cardiologists will set out detailed contingency plans for all patients who would normally attend the Cath Lab.

Deputy Butler says they’re also looking for a detailed timeframe from the contractor.

“They need the absolute detail on this.”

This will enable the hospital to gauge the downtime involved in upgrading the current Cath Lab. It was stressed that this downtime needs to be kept to an absolute minimum.

Deputy Butler says they have given a commitment to her and to the public of the South East that work would not commence nor would any equipment be ordered until those issues are finalised.

Dr O’Callaghan also said that the new Cath Lab will be fitted with the most up-to-date equipment which is a very positive development for the patients and staff of UHW.