John Halligan: Lab briefing note reveals serious interference in University Hospital Waterford review

Junior Minister John Halligan has railed against “serious departmental interference” in the review which ruled out a second cardiac laboratory for University Hospital Waterford and has demanded a meeting with Health Minister Simon Harris as the issue again threatened the stability of the Government.

The Minister of State for Training and Skills launched his broadside after it emerged that a briefing note for the independent clinical review of the case for a second cardiac laboratory at UHW said it was “not a top investment priority”.

The review, conducted by Belfast-based consultant cardiologist Dr Niall Herity, ruled out the need for the second lab — a decision which almost led to Mr Halligan leaving government last month.

The situation appeared to have calmed after discussions with cabinet colleagues left the way open for a future review on the issue, but Mr Halligan said the contents of the briefing note, disclosed to him following a Freedom of Information request, “substantiated” his claim that there had been departmental interference in the process and this led to a “flawed and incomplete report”.

According to the briefing note, written in May, the Department of Health instead said the priority at the hospital was to upgrade decontamination facilities, theatres, intensive care facilities and staffing.

Mr Halligan said: “The contents of the previously unseen paragraph substantiate what I have been arguing since Dr Herity’s report was first published: that there was serious departmental interference in what was supposed to be a fully independent review of cardiology services in the South-East.

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“The result of this interference has been a flawed and incomplete report recommending investment which would have little impact on the current service provision.

“It is now clear that both the Department of Health and the HSE attempted to influence the outcome of Dr Herity’s review. I have spoken to Minister for Health Simon Harris this evening and he has agreed to come to Waterford to listen to the views of local consultants and seek a way to move forward on the issue.”

The Department of Health stressed that the review conducted by Dr Herity was fully independent and that the briefing note conveyed its view.

The review was strongly criticised at local level, including by senior medics in the hospital.