Simon Coveney denies 'trickery' as second review of cardiac service planned in Waterford

A second clinic review of cardiac services at University Hospital Waterford is expected to be carried out.

The news came after Junior Minister John Halligan stopped short of quitting Government over the row yesterday.

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According to the newspaper the second inquiry leaves the door open for a second cath lab at UHW.

It has also emerged that Independent Alliance minister Halligan was openly promising constituents on his Facebook page in June that jobs and funds were on the way for a second catheterisation laboratory at the hospital.

Mr Halligan effectively said that his political future would be decided by local consultants and clinicians now examining a review of care at the hospital.

This independent review, released after Mr Halligan threatened to quit, did not recommend the hospital get a second cath lab for patients. Instead, improved staffing levels and equipment were pledged by the Government.

However, Health Minister Simon Harris also agreed to a fresh review at Waterford.

“During this period of investment and enhancement of services, the situation will be closely monitored,” he said. “To assess the impact these improvements have had on the volume of patients attending the cath lab, I will have a further independent review carried out in early 2017.”

Mr Halligan had criticised the terms of the first Herity review and said it was “flawed” and did not properly take account of the population in the region.

His criticism and threat to resign has now forced the Government into agreeing to conduct a second review of Waterford’s cardiac services, which leaves the door open for a second lab.

This was also confirmed by Housing Minister Simon Coveney, who denied that there had been any “trickery” or false promises in the pre-government talks for a second lab.