Two Waterford TD's have called on the Minister for Health to give a detailed timeline for securing a modular cardiac cath lab at UHW.
It was announced this week that funding would be provided in October's budget with plans to have the unit on site next year.
Fianna Fail TD Mary Butler and Sinn Fein's David Cullinane raised the matter in the Dail last night.
Duputy Butler told the house: "The Minister stated that he had received advice from the HSE and that some further work is required on the detail relating to tendering, project design work, planning, construction and commissioning. I am asking for that further detail. We need a clear timeframe and an expected delivery date.
"The consultants at the hospital feel that this modular unit will greatly enhance the cardiac services they offer to the public. Having one elective and non-elective lab is now possible but it needs to be delivered as a matter of priority without any delay. I would really appreciate it if the Minister of State could give us information as to when we can expect to see this modular lab on the ground so that we can save lives."
Deputy Cullinane says they've requested a meeting with Minister Harris: "I ask the Minister of State to go back to the Minister for Health and ask him to meet the Oireachtas Members before the Dáil recess, as he promised, to outline to us actual timeframes. In any capital project, one has targets in terms of whether it is the first quarter, second quarter or third quarter of the year, and there are timeframes around all the different stages in the process. We have no timeframe here. The Minister of State will accept we need a bit more than what is in his response in order to give comfort to the people of the south-east that this will be delivered as quickly as possible."
Minister of State Finian McGrath says he will go back to Minister Harris about the timeline: "With regard to the points about the timeframe and the delivery date, I will go back to the Minister on that issue. Of course, there will be issues in regard to procurement and planning, as well as the potential for delays. I have experienced this in regard to the new accident and emergency unit at Beaumont Hospital so I know exactly where the Deputies are coming from. I reassure them there will be no kicking the can down the road on this issue. The Independent Alliance and the Government are very supportive of the people of Waterford. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, has been pushing this issue in government with the Minister and we have been supporting him. Likewise, we are very supportive of the needs of the people of Waterford because we feel very strongly that they have been left out of the picture and they are entitled to the same level of service as other regions of the country. There is no debate on that issue."
