REACTION TO 24/7 : Campaigners on brink of historic breakthrough for Waterford cardiac care after years of advocacy

Cabinet approval was given last week for University Hospital Waterford to be upgraded in order to provide 24/7 cardiac care services.

€611,000 will be made available in 2025 to begin the recruitment of extra staff and other resources to move from the current 12/7 service to a full 24/7 service.

The announcement follows sustained efforts of over 10 years by public representatives and local community activists to address the critical need for expanded cardiac care in the south east region.

Waterford TDs react

Speaking last week, Minister Mary Butler hailed the decision, saying: “We all know that patients in the South East have had to travel to Dublin or Cork to access emergency cardiac care outside of normal hours. This has placed an unacceptable burden on families and our healthcare providers. The development of 24/7 cardiac services at UHW will close this gap and deliver a more equitable health system for everyone."

Minister John Cummins said last week: “This is really positive news for the people in Waterford and the South East region.

“I am delighted that the Minister (Jennifer Carroll MacNeill) is making this decision today to expand the service at UHW to 24/7 cardiac care to meet the needs in the south-east. This is something which I and others have been working towards for a long number of years.” 

Also welcoming the news, Deputy David Cullinane, said: “It has taken some time to get here, but it is now Government policy that there should be 24/7 emergency cardiac services at UHW. Now we must make sure it is delivered, that timeframes are put in place quickly, and that UHW is resourced to make this a reality."

Deputy Conor McGuinness similarly commented: “The Department of Health has finally sanctioned 24/7 cardiac care at UHW, something that so many of us have campaigned for, raised and championed. It will be for Government to back up today’s announcement with action."

All four TDs commended the campaigners and activists who worked hard on the issue.

Campaigners and activists react

The work of public representatives and the people of the south east throughout the years has proven invaluable to the cause.

The News & Star spoke this week with campaigners and activists who have fought long for the delivery of 24/7 cardiac care.

Matt Shanahan, Willie Doyle and Mick Daniels are just a few of the pivotal figures who have worked tirelessly for over the years. 

While all expressed delight at last week’s approval, there was also some concern regarding the time that it may take to have 24/7 care officially staffed and implemented. 

One such advocate for the cause is Mr Shanahan, who started the Hand on Heart campaign and the Health Equality for the South East group. He also ensured during his tenure as an Independent TD that the issue was a constant in Leader's Questions.

Speaking this week, he expressed delight at the news, whilst also emphasising that the funding must now be ringfenced and a business plan approved to ensure swift implementation of the service.

Mr. Shanahan commended the key players over the years who have worked tirelessly for the service, particularly Dr. Patrick Owens and the South East consultants who rejected the flawed findings of the Herity Report in 2016. The controversial report concluded that there was no need for a second cath lab in Waterford.

Mr Shanahan said: “It has taken far too long, and I feel very sorry for the damage that has been done to patients and families who have lost loved ones because that service was not available.

“This is one win along the way, and I commend everybody who played a part, but the fight goes on. This is certainly not the end of the campaigning that should happen in this region to get equitable distribution of funding from the exchequer."

Mick Daniels of the 24/7 Southeast Cardiac Campaign group has been another active figure to the cause.

The group have interviewed hundreds of locals in Waterford to raise profile on the issue, and they filmed a tv commercial detailing the true story of a death, which occurred in an ambulance as someone was being transported to Cork.

Mick said the news was "cause for celebration", but that the work of the group will continue.

“The announcement made is very welcome, but people could still die or suffer permanent damage if they get a heart attack tonight.

“All of us involved in the campaign are very happy, but equally we would like to know when it is going to be implemented. We would like to see this happening now. Our campaign ends the day 24/7 begins.”

Stalwarts of the campaign for 24/7, Willie Doyle, Jennifer Doyle and Mary Coughlan, have been active since 2014 when Jennifer suffered a heart attack.

Willie said this week:  “At that time it was unbelievable for us to discover that the dedicated cardiac unit here at UHW was only open 9 to 5, Monday to Friday.

“On 7th May 2014 at City Square, Waterford, we started to collect signatures for a petition to highlight this and these were delivered to the Health Minister, Mr. Reilly at Dáil Éireann. We had flyers, posters and banners printed and were relentless in the campaign. 

"After a long battle we were over the moon to learn that 24/7 cardiac cover had been approved for the south east. 

"This is great news for cardiac patients who no longer will have to be transferred to Cork for treatment. A big thanks to everyone who supported this campaign and helped along the way.”