Round The Clock Cardiac Care At UHW Welcomed

Healthcare in the South East received a huge boost over the weekend with the news that cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford are to be expanded

The service will now run on a 24 hour basis for 365 days a year, to support people in the community who need emergency heart procedures.

Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is describing it as a major step forward for healthcare in the Southeast which will improve access to critical services.

Former Independent TD Matt Shanahan used his time in the Dail to fight for the service to help all those in Wexford and Waterford.

He says we now have "first world treatement" for heart issues in the South East.

"Up to now, what was happening was people were being brought to the local hospital and then being transfered but now it means people will go direct from the scene.

"So if you walk into Wexford Hospital today and you're suffering the onset of a heart attack, you will be taken immediately to UHW.

"The protocol now is to bring you into the lab here as quickly as possible and that is the best treatment possible."

Before this, services were only running from 8am to 8pm each day but Mr Shanahan says this expansion means there's no more waiting for vital care.

"The previous extension made a big difference but this will finally close the loop.

"People who make wake up during the night or if they're going to bed, they don't need to be worried about where they might access the service they need, they now know they have it in Waterford.

"It's relatively close by and you will be received into the cath lab on a 24/7 basis."

Mr Shanahan says this is the result of a lot of campaigning and lobbying but days like today make it all worthwhile.

"We had to march for a long time for a kidney dialysis unit, march for a South East radiotherapy service and now we've had to lobby for almost 14 years to get this cardiac care. It should not be like this in the South East.

"It isn't a case of need, it's a case of equality and we need to go forward now knowing that we can provide services here far more efficiently that can be done in other places. 

"But we need to be resourced to deliver those services."

That report was funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.