Tá an Rialtas cáinte go láidir inniu ag ionadaí áitiúil de chuid Shinn Féin, Conor D. McGuinness, de dheasca na teipe cúram cairdiach 24/7 a chuir ar fáil in Ospidéal na hOllscoile Phort Láirge.
Ag labhairt le linn na hagóide dúirt McGuinness:
“Tá daonra ós coinn leathmhilliún ag braith ar Ospidéal na hOllscoile Phort Láirge, ach is é an Oirdheisceart an t-aon réigiún nach bhfuil rochtain aige ar chúram cairdiach ceithre uair ‘s fiche in aghaidh an lae agus seacht lá sa tseachtain.
“Táimse i mbun agóide inniu mar chuid don bhfeachtas chun dara saotharlann cataitéar a fháilt d’Ospidéal na hOllscoile Phort Láirge chun cúram cairdiach a chuir ar fáil ar bhonn 24 uair a chloig.
“Má thá éigeandáil cairdiach agat san Oirdheisceart idir 5in Dé hAoine agus 9am Dé Luain, is é an t-aon rogha atá agat ná taistil go Cathair Chorcaí in otharcharr, má thá ceann ar fáil.
“Tá liostaí feithimh ceithre lá déag i gcéist le haghaidh obair diagnóiseach atá riachtanach i ndiaidh taom chroí. Táimid ag éileamh infheistíocht bheith curtha san áireamh sa phlean caipitil ag an rialtas.
“Tá an rialtas agus an HSE ag caitheamh linn mar shaoránaigh den dara grad agus nílimid chun glacadh leis. Tá an seirbhís riachtanach seo ag teastáil uainn ansa san Oirdheisceart ar mhaithe le saol agus sláinte.
“Bhí na mílte daoine amuigh ag an agóid i bPort Láirge. Caithfidh an rialtas agus bainistíocht an HSE éisteacht linn. Tá an dualgas orthu anois cinntiú go gcuirtear an seribhís tabhachtach seo ar fáil gan a thuilleadh moille.“
Lives at risk as Government stalls on 24/7 Cardiac Care – McGuinness
Speaking at a rally of over 10,000 people in Waterford City this weekend, Sinn Féin area representative Conor D. McGuinness said Government inaction on 24/7 emergency cardiac care is putting the lives of Waterford people at risk.
McGuinness said:
“University Hospital Waterford serves a population of half a million people, yet the South East remains the only region without 24-hour emergency cardiac care.
“If someone in Co. Waterford experiences a cardiac incident between 5pm on a Friday and 9am on a Monday their only option is a transfer to Cork City, if and when an ambulance is available.
“We need a permanent second Cath Lab at UHW and the provision of 24/7 emergency cardiac care. A second lab needs to be adequately resourced and capable of performing both diagnostic and intervention work.
“There is a 14-day waiting list for crucial cardiac diagnostic treatment in UHW, treatment which should be occurring within 24 hours of a patient experiencing a cardiac incident.
“The Government and HSE management are treating people in Co. Waterford like second-class citizens. Lives are being put at risk by the failure of this Government and its predecessors to take action. The clear message from this weekend’s rally is that the people of Waterford demand 24/7 emergency cardiac care without further delay.”
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Cllr. Conor D. McGuinness 