24-hour cardiac services confirmed for University Hospital Waterford

24/7 cardiac care has been a longstanding issue in University Hospital Waterford.

There are finally 24-hour, seven-day-a-week cardiac services available at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), the Government has confirmed.

The Department of Health said the service will ensure faster access to life-saving treatment, reduce travel times for patients and families, and strengthen the capacity of the health service to deliver timely, high-quality cardiac care across the region.

Until now, the service operated from 8am-8pm seven days a week. It is understood the upgraded service will treat approximately 60-80 more patients suffering life-threatening, severe heart attacks.

24/7 cardiac care has been a longstanding issue in Waterford.

Campaigns for the introduction of the service began through advocacy groups such as the South East Patient Advocacy Group and Hand on Heart campaign more than a decade ago.

In the run-up to the 2016 general election, Micheál Martin and Mary Butler stood outside UHW with a poster reading: “Fianna Fáil will secure 24/7 cardiac care in UHW.”

Stumbling blocks included the 2016 Herity report, which disputed the necessity for a 24/7 cardiac care service for UHW and said it was “not a top investment priority” for government.

The deaths of Thomas Power in 2017 and Una McDermott in 2018 piled pressure on the government to deliver the service.

The Government's chief whip and local TD Mary Butler admitted that, for many years, local communities and healthcare professionals had been advocating for enhanced cardiac services in the region.

She said: “Having 24/7 cardiac care available at University Hospital Waterford will provide reassurance to people across the region that specialist treatment is available when it is needed most. 

"It will improve patient outcomes, support faster intervention in critical cases, and further strengthen University Hospital Waterford’s role as the regional hospital for the South-East."