Minister cannot commit to date for 24/7 cardiac care in Waterford
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll McNeill beside Minister for State and Waterford TD Mary Butler speaking to the media at St Otterans Complex integrated Health Hub earlier this year. Picture: WLR.
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill says she expects the recruitment process to support 24/7 cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford will be complete in the coming months, but would not commit to a date.
The minister was responding to a recent parliamentary question submitted by Waterford Sinn Féin TD Conor McGuinness.
In his question, Deputy McGuinness asked if the minister would commit to a date for the delivery of 24/7 cardiac care at UHW and when people in the South East would be able to avail of the service.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said she visited UHW earlier this year and that the government has invested significantly in the facility to support 24/7 cardiac care.
“The final step in service expansion is the introduction of a full 24/7 out-of-hours emergency cardiac service. I am pleased to confirm that I have directed the HSE to progress this.
“We are working closely with both the hospital team and the HSE to ensure the appropriate resourcing to ensure UHW is proportionally staffed, and to bring UHW in line with other centres providing emergency cardiac care.
"We expect this work to be completed in the coming months, subject to the availability of the necessary specialist workforce,” said Minister Carroll MacNeill.
