24-7 Cardiac Service for South East to Begin at University Hospital Waterford

A full 24-7 cardiac intervention service is set to begin at University Hospital Waterford from Monday, July 6th, marking a major development for healthcare in the South East.

The new service means patients suffering serious cardiac events, including heart attacks, will be able to access emergency treatment in Waterford at any time of the day or night, rather than being transferred to hospitals in Dublin or Cork.

The announcement has been widely welcomed across the region following years of campaigning by healthcare staff, patients, families and political representatives.

Speaking about the development, campaigners said the change will benefit a catchment area of approximately 600,000 people across counties including Wexford, Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow, South Tipperary and surrounding areas.

Concerns had long been raised over delays in transferring critically ill patients to other hospitals for emergency cardiac procedures. Previous figures highlighted lengthy transfer times, with some patients reportedly waiting several hours to reach specialist care.

Supporters of the new service say the introduction of 24-7 access will bring the South East in line with standards already available in other regions of the country and will significantly improve patient outcomes.

The service is due to officially commence on Monday, July 6th.