Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane has welcomed the extension to the operation of the mobile cath lab on the grounds of University Hospital Waterford but says the campaign for a permanent facility will go on.
It was confirmed that the mobile facility, which is currently in operation at UHW, will remain in place for another 6 weeks to allow for the hospital to complete recruitment of the additional staff.
Deputy Cullinane said that he and other Waterford Oireachtas members will be meeting the Minister for Health to discuss the cardiac facilities in the coming weeks.
"What we are pushing for is not the continuous deployment of the mobile lab but replace that with a modular lab that will be able to not just the diagnostic angiograms but also the interventions."
He said that the current lack of capacity at UHW is a cause for concern:
"Data shows that we have a lack of capacity, peoples experiences also show that and what I am trying to do is to continue to make the case to the Minister that we need a second lab and enhanced capacity," he says.
"At the very minimum over the next number of weeks what we need is a commitment to deploy a modular lab while the national review does its work."
Concluding the Waterford TD said: "We hope that the national review will make a recommendation that a second lab is needed to ensure patients safety and that people are not fearful of not getting the service and support that they need from their local and regional hospital. "
