Sinn Fein TD for Waterford David Cullinane has said there is no truth in the rumours that St Vincent's hospital in Dublin is to get a second cath lab.
Rumours circulating on social media in recent days stated that the South Dublin hospital was to get an additional laboratory. St Vincent's currently only has one lab open 9-5 on weekdays.
The rumours generated a great deal of anger given the long standing demands for a 24/7 service at University Hospital Waterford.
Speaking on Deise Today, David Cullinane said he had spoken to the Minister for Health and Department officials about this:
"They say there is absolutely no truth in the rumours that St Vincent's is to get an additional lab; there is no plan, they have not seen any plan, they have not seen any submission, they were concerned about where this came from, and the substance of it. And I suppose I can only take it on face value what was said."
Dr Rob Landers, who is the former clinical director at UHW, also told Eamon Keane it would be an 'incredible' decision if true. "It would be almost incredible how you could still leave Waterford as the only cardiac centre in the country with a single lab, I doubt if it's true and I think it would be a brave Minister for Health who would sanction such a decision when you still have discrimination against half a million people in the South East".
Deputy Cullinane said he believed the clinical need for a second cath lab in UHW has been firmly established, but other hospitals are also likely to demand extra services during the National Cardiac review process.
