Junior Minister John Halligan’s hopes for a second cardiac unit at Waterford Hospital appear to have been quashed yet again, after he was caught in a double-cross by the very same government that promised to deliver the facility in return for his support.
An independent review by a Belfast-based cardiologist found that there was no need for a second cardiac unit in Waterford, a notion that was firmly grasped upon by the Government to renege on their promise.
Yet, the outcome of the review was deemed to be inaccurate, as the figures upon which the review were based upon were wrong, according to local consultants.
In the wake of the revelation, John Halligan vowed to ‘rain hell on the Government.’ Yet, no hell has rained yet, and Mr. Halligan has been conspicuously silent on the issue thus far.
Now, a note issued by the crumbling health service states that a second cardiac unit for Waterford Hospital ‘is not a top investment priority,’ despite the fact that 581 people are currently waiting for cardiac-related procedures at Waterford Hospital, with an average waiting time of 18 months.