Government needs to do more for stroke patients at University Hospital Waterford. That's the call from Waterford Independent TD Matt Shanahan.
The hospital receives over one thousand stroke patients every year, operating with five stroke unit beds and two single rooms.
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Shanahan addressed Taoiseach Simon Harris on the shortfall.
"Taoiseach, I'm asking you to have a look at this. Only 25% of our acute stroke patients get into the stroke unit at University Hospital Waterford. Only 6% of transient ischemic attacks get into the stroke unit.
"UHW is still being denied the ability to deal with acute heart attacks seven days and now to deal with stroke effectively. I'm asking you to resource the service properly and look at a new capital program.
"I've raised many times the issues at University Hospital Waterford which to remind you is the least funded of the Model Four Hospitals in the country, and has the lowest number of healthcare practitioners to beds in the Model Fours, but it's the stroke unit issues I want to turn to Taoiseach.
"UHW receives over a thousand stroke patients every year, and yet it has only five stroke unit beds in two single rooms. Stroke is a disease that affects one in five in our country. One in five will suffer a stroke."
Taoiseach Simon Harris responded to Deputy Shanahan, ensuring he would address the shortfall at UHW.
"Thanks to Deputy Shannon for raising this issue and the issues in relation to University Hospital Waterford. My understanding is around 96 beds, additional beds, have been announced in the last three years for the hospital, and rightly so and they're needed in Waterford and needed in the South East.
"Specifically in relation to the stroke issue you raised though, I will raise that with the Minister for Health, and I'll also ask the Minister to raise it with Ronan Collins who's done brilliant work as the clinical lead for our National Stroke Pair Programme as well and see what progress can be made for the South East."
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