Protesters at today’s march.

The cause of 24/7 interventional cardiac care for the South East has inspired hundreds from across the region to travel to the capital today.

Over 500 people are taking part in a demonstration to highlight the sub-standard practice of transferring cardiac patients by ambulance to Cork Hospital.

Waterford CTU members at today’s march.

Those taking part expressed there dissatisfaction with the current practice, with one man saying “no-one wants to die of a heart attack in the back of an ambulance to Cork.”

Emma Shanahan and Erin Kelly in a horse drawn carriage.

Meanwhile, Waterford TD Mary Butler says she believes the message of 24/7 cardiac care for the South East is resonating with the wider Irish public.

“We got a taxi across to the Garden of Remembrance,” she said, “and the taxi driver was fully aware. When I raised it with him, he said ‘You’re certainly in the s*** down there!'”

She said it was a big challenge for people to get to Dublin today, but that it was great to see so many out.