The much anticipated mobile cath lab has arrived at University Hospital Waterford.
The mobile facility will be in place for the next 20 weeks in order to provide planned work only and will not provide emergency cardiac cover/PPCI.
This means the current emergency servicing in the South East will remain a 9 AM - 5 PM Monday to Friday service.
What this lab will do is reduce the planned work and do assessments and other planned work - in order to reduce wait times.
Campaigning for a second lab is set to continue into the future in order to secure 24/7 cardiac cover for the region.
Waterford TD David Cullinane says it's still unknown what will happen after the 20 weeks but "what we do know in terms of the overall issue and the wider issue - of the need for expanded services generally and the need for 24/7 emergency cover - is that the Government is committed to a national review and if necessary a regional review."
