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John Halligan says push for second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford is "unstoppable"

John Halligan says push for second cath lab at University Hospital Waterford is "unstoppable"

A mobile lab will begin to address the current cardiology waiting lists at UHW from September, and will be in situ for a five month period.

The search for an independent expert to carry out a national review of primary cardiology services is also underway.

Minister of State John Halligan says he believes that if the national review doesn't make the case for the second cath lab, a promised regional review definitely will.

"I would be hopeful - when you take everything into consideration and you talk about justice and fair play regarding the South East, that that (the national review) would get it (cath lab) over the line" he says "but if it doesn't, I think the regional review will."

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He says that once the mobile cath lab is in place, it will help reduce waiting lists and will show clearly that a second full time lab is a necessity.

The regional review will begin once the mobile lab completes it's five month placement and Minister Halligan says that the Minister for Health is already looking for a suitable candidate to carry out the national review.

"I spoke to Simon Harris last week and he said they're already trawling for a (cardiology) expert from Europe," he says, "so I would hope to have the national review up and running very shortly."

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