Darragh's Soapbox: The people of Waterford react to 24/7 approval

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.

However, the approval raises questions about the timeframe for the project's full delivery and operational launch.

Locals in Waterford this week, while welcoming the approval, shared concerns.

Michael Walsh said: “It has taken too long. It's years behind time, absolutely years behind.

"I wonder now will it happen straight away? They got the go ahead, but when will it start now? That’s what we want to know. Will it be six months, next week, two years?

“But hopefully it will happen soon because it is badly needed.” 

Willie Hearne added: “I had a heart attack myself on a Saturday, but lucky enough I didn’t have to go to Dublin and I got into Waterford on a Monday.

“So I think this has taken too long and it should have been done long ago. How long could it take now to get it started? It takes too long to do things in this country, you have to wait for everything and for a city, we don’t get much compared to Cork or Dublin."

Mick Daniels, member of the 24/7 Southeast Cardiac Campaign, said this week: "The announcement made is very welcome, but people could still die or suffer permanent damage if they get a heart attack tonight.

“It’s a cause for celebration, and all of us involved in the campaign are very happy, but equally we would like to know when it is going to happen. We were made promises before by the current Taoiseach, nine years ago.

“They have the two working cath labs, all they need to do in employ the staff. We would like to see this happening as fast as possible."