Heart patients waiting over a year for vital services

Echocardiogram waiting times are now exceeding 12 months and angiograms can take over a year to access, the Oireachtas Health Commitee heard.

Health services are “crumbling” under the pressures of heart disease, with waiting lists of over a year for some vital services, the Oireachtas Health Committee heard on Wednesday.

Committee members heard Covid-19 and the HSE cyber hack has the potential to worsen the situation, with Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) chief executive Tim Collins warning these challenges are landing on top of "significant historical service deficits”.