24/7 cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford to commence in July

24-hour cardiac care services for patients across the South East are scheduled to start on July 6. Current services operate from 8am to 8pm, and emergencies outside those hours require diversion to hospitals in Dublin or Cork. The start date was confirmed at the Dublin-South East Regional Health Forum by University Hospital Waterford’s chief executive. Questions were raised about patient routing, including for west Waterford, and it was confirmed that patients under the National Ambulance Service will be transferred to the nearest hospital for treatment. Local representatives welcomed the announcement as a major milestone and a relief after prolonged concern and campaigning.

"The long-awaited services for 24-hour cardiac care for patients across the South East will commence this year on July 6, it's been confirmed by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The announcement was made on Thursday, May 21 at the Dublin-South East Regional Health Forum by University Hospital Waterford's (UHW) Chief Executive, Ben O'Sullivan."

"As it stands, the cardiac care services are operational between the hours of 8am to 8pm, with patients from the south east either being diverted to counties Dublin or Cork for emergency care outside of those hours. Waterford Cllr John O'Leary welcomed the news, but asked where patients in the west Waterford area will be directed to."

"It was confirmed that patients who are under the care of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) will be transferred to the nearest hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, Wexford Cllr Ger Carthy, who is also the Operations Resource Manager for Wexford with NAS, acknowledged that "this is a fantastic achievement and it's incredibly important to have 24-hour cardiac care available for patients across the south east"."

"The Chair of the meeting, Cllr Damien Geoghegan said July 6 will be a "red letter day" for the region. "This is significant for all those people who took to the streets over the years, for the public and politicians, to get these services," the Waterford Cllr continued. "There was much consternation and controversy over this for a long time, and to finally have that put to bed will be a relief."

Read at Irish Independent