'Vital service' for Waterford will be up and running by the end of June this year

The "vital service" of 24/7 cardiac care will be up and running at University Hospital Waterford by the end of June this year, according to a local minister. 

John Cummins TD has confirmed that provisions are being put in place for the service to be made available "as quickly as possible." 

Additional staff were required to begin the expansion of cardiac services at the hospital.

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€611,000 in funding was provided by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, last year in order for staff to be recruited.

"It is my understanding that three people have since successfully come through that interview process, two of those will replace two of the existing locum posts that have been in place. An additional post has also been sanctioned, which will bring the complement to six interventional cardiologists," Minister Cummins confirmed.

The sixth post will be taken up in June, allowing the service to make the transition to 24/7 cardiac care.

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University Hospital Waterford moved to an 8am to 8pm service seven days a week last year.

Minister Cummins noted that a move to 24/7 cardiac care may happen sooner should certain conditions align.

"If it can be quicker, it will be quicker. The desire from all involved is to get there as quickly as possible as this is a vital service for Waterford and the entire South-East region," he concluded.