"We need to build on this": Shanahan hails imminent commencement of UHW cardiac care weekend care
Former TD Matt Shanahan, expressed delight that the 7-day service is going to be implemented
Former TD Matt Shanahan, who set up the ‘Hand On Heart’ initiative to demand 24/7 cardiac care for Waterford and was a driving force behind the campaign in 2016, said he was "delighted that finally, after so much waiting, that the 7-day service is going to be implemented soon."
"It couldn't come soon enough after the last number of months in which we have had a significant number of cases requiring transport to Cork at the weekend," he said, before adding: "Even over Christmas, I heard of a family friend whose father passed away and should have had access to the cath lab [in UHW] but unfortunately didn't make it. We need to stop that happening, so I welcome this news that everyone has worked so hard to achieve. It's a big step forward, for sure."
While Mr Shanahan was pleased that the 7-day cardiac service at UHW was set to begin, he emphasized that the community needs to fight to build on this success: "We need to build from here, people do not feel safe. We still need round-the-clock cardiac coverage in Waterford"
He said the resistance from the Government on the issue is "purely about resourcing - the hospital meets all the requirements for the round-the-clock coverage."
The current Seanad candidate vowed to keep up the pressure on the Government, whether he is in the Seanad or not, on the issue of the cardiac day-ward to ensure that there is sufficient bed-space and resources for patients admitted into the cardiac ward.
Mr Shanahan said that the issue would "come under more pressure now once the weekend service is in place".
The former TD said that having a 7-day cardiac service in operation at UHW had been a goal: "Going back to 2004, when the cath lab really started operating at a good level, so we're talking 20 years."
He praised the work of Dr Paddy Owens, commenting: "I would absolutely congratulate the work of Dr Paddy Owens in particular, who has led from the front for many years on the cardiac service."
"We need the cardiac day beds, we need the additional nursing staff and in the future we have to build on this - we do need round-the-clock cardiac services," he said.
"No one should present in Waterford and not get access to a cath lab - it doesn't happen in any other region in the country except here.
