Waterford cardiac care
Senator O'Sullivan called for 24-7 heart care in Waterford, arguing that the current service is inadequate and that travel times to Cork are too long. She asked for a modular catheterisation lab to support patients waiting for treatment, with supportive interjections from other Senators.
I wish the Cathaoirleach and all Senators a happy St. Valentine's Day. On that note, I ask Senators to support the people of Waterford in their request for 24-7 heart care. Last Saturday, more than 2,000 people walked on the streets of Waterford to demonstrate once again their absolute desire, request and hearty need for 24-7 cardiac care in Waterford. The Herity report has been completely dismissed - it is a fudge - because the time it takes to travel from Waterford to Cork is much more than 90 minutes. I would like to mention something interesting that I discovered at a recent meeting. When we bring a car for its NCT, the diagnostics sometimes show that there are several problems with the vehicle. That is what is happening in Waterford. While we welcome the mobile catheterisation lab, all it provides are the diagnostics.
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When people leave the catheterisation lab after being told they have multiple heart problems, they are stuck on a waiting list. There is no modular lab. I ask the Government to provide a modular lab at University Hospital Waterford, in addition to the mobile lab, to deal with these problems. This would ensure people are not sent out into the uncertainty of being left on waiting lists without knowing when their hearts will be treated. This could happen today. Today, I will be asking the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to do whatever he can to secure not only a second catheterisation lab but also decent and proper care in Waterford. On St. Valentine's Day, I ask the Minister and all Senators to have a heart for Waterford.
