Editorial: Triumphant milestone in decade-long fight for 24/7 cardiac care for Waterford
Up to 10,000 people turned out to march in Waterford for the delivery of 24/7 in 2019. It would remain a pertinent issue in the South East for the next six years. Photo: Joe Evans
The campaign for 24/7 cardiac care for Waterford and the South East region has been a long and arduous one. Although it is not over yet - and won't be until the service is available no matter the hour of need, day or night - cabinet approval last week, early in this term of Government, appears to be the guarantee at long last that 24/7 will become a fully staffed actuality.
It is understandable to be sceptical until the recruitment process is completed and the service becomes properly operational, but Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, of the Fine Gael party, looks set to be the Minister whose name will now be associated with the establishment of this major milestone for Waterford.
It is a very positive political achievement for both Waterford Ministers of State, Chief Whip Mary Butler (FF) and John Cummins (FG), to have cabinet backing for a project that has topped the Waterford electoral wishlist for three general elections running.
Monies to the tune of €611,000 are being made available in 2025 to begin the recruitment process - to bring extra staff on stream and expand the service from 12/7 to 24/7.
Campaigners and activists from across the South East must be commended for the manner in which they doggedly pursued their goal of demanding nothing short of full, proper cardiac equality for our region - as has long been the case across the rest of the nation.
They've been vociferous and imaginative in their campaigning - rallying crowds of people into the streets of Waterford on numerous occasions, getting petitions signed, bringing on board the full weight of the expertise of healthcare professionals at University Hospital Waterford and other hospitals across the South East, and further afield.
Their determination in pursuing this cause has been nothing short of heroic - and, without question, Waterford would not have reached this juncture without them.
Mick Daniels of the 24/7 Southeast Cardiac Campaign group has described the development as a "cause for celebration" but was also quick to emphasise that the campaign will only end when a 24/7 cardiac service is fully operational.
"Our campaign ends the day 24/7 begins," he said, pointing out that between now and then more people are in danger of suffering permanent damage or even death if they get a heart attack during the night.
The clock continues to tick for the lives of people from the South East.
Once - and hopefully we will see it during this calendar year - 24/7 cardiac care is fully operational, it will be refreshing for media organisations, advocates and politicians, to be able to place increased focus on other crucial work, concerning both healthcare and the wider investment needs of Waterford and the South East.
It is well over a decade since the campaign for 24/7 first took serious root in Waterford, when a petition to highlight the issue was brought to shoppers in City Square in Waterford city to collect signatures, and subsequently presented to the then Minister for Health, James Reilly.
Let's hope that other areas, that pertain to equitable regional services for Waterford and the South East, don't take quite so long to get the backing of national government.
