“The South East Comhairle Ceantair of Republican Sinn Féin at a meeting on Thursday June 23, 2017, discussed at length the issue of availability or otherwise of the cath lab in Waterford University Hospital following the death the previous Sunday of Thomas Power, who had presented at the hospital with chest pain.

Thomas Power died in the ambulance on his way to Cork hospital as there is no cardiac unit in Waterford Hospital over the weekends. The Organisation sends its sincere sympathy to the family and friends of Thomas Power.

There has been a long-running campaign for increased cardiac services at the hospital, and for increased hours of operation for the existing lab. In January this year the hospital was promised a mobile catheterisation lab but it has never materialised. (A catheterisation lab helps visualise arteries and treat any heart problems found.)

The meetings agreed that the most urgent need in Waterford was the recruitment of sufficient suitable staff to cover the present CATH lab on a 24/7 basis; and also agreed the necessity for a second CATH lab to cover the lengthy waiting lists and act as a stand-by to the existing facilities.”

South East Comhairle Ceantair, Sinn Féin Poblachtach

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