A public inquest into the death of Waterford man Thomas Power, who died of a heart attack in the back of an ambulance on its way to Cork, has been requested by his family.

Details regarding the staffing levels and operating hours of a proposed mobile catheritisation lab for cardiac patients at University Hospital Waterford are expected to be confirmed in the next couple of days.

People in the south-east are being urged to have their voices heard this weekend on a ‘life and death issue’. The South East Patient Advocacy Group (SEPAG) said the continuing concerns over a part-time cardiac service in University Hospital Waterford “affects every single person living in Wexford, Kilkenny, Tipperary, Carlow and Waterford”.

A patient advocacy group seeking 24/7 cardiac care in Waterford has warned the Government: “We have not gone away — our lives matter and out voices will be heard.”