The South East is the only region in Ireland which does not have 24 / 7 cardiac care and access to more than one cath lab.

THE INABILITY of Taoiseach Enda Kenny to provide a date for when a mobile cath lab for the provision of cardiac care will be in place at University Hospital Waterford has been slammed by Labour Party Leader and Wexford TD, Brendan Howlin.

The former Minister for Expenditure and Public Reform highlighted how the Taoiseach and Minister for Health made a commitment in January to people in the South East concerned about the level of cardiac care available in their region, however this promise had not been fulfilled to date.

The Cardiac Cath Lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) serves over 500,000 people across the South East region, but operates only between the hours of 9am and 5pm Mondays to Fridays.

Patients within the region who suffer heart attacks after 5pm cannot access a cath lab at UHW or anywhere else within the 90-minute recommended time.

At present, patients in the South East region who cannot access a catheterisation lab within the required time must undergo a second-grade treatment which is effective in just 45 per cent of cases.

“I am particularly disappointed by the response from the Taoiseach,” Deputy Howlin said, outlining how the outgoing Government leader “could not give me a date as to when the mobile cath lab will be put in place.

“There is enormous concern in the South East about the issue of cardiac care for University Hospital Waterford.”

Read more in the Wexford Echo.