Independent TD John Halligan may yet emerge as Waterford Hospital’s paladin, after a group of consultants rejected the findings of the Herity report.
The report, led by Belfast-based consultant Dr. Niall Herity, has been deemed to be flawed, as the catchment figures were reportedly grossly understimated. Because Dr. Herlihy based his recommendation of not implementing a second cardiac unit at Waterford Hospital on these figures, all outcomes are wrong, according to a local group of consultants at the hospital.
Mr. Halligan lent his support for the Government based on the specific request of such facility for the hospital, and has now threatened to remove his support over the issue. If this does come to pass, the Government’s precarious balance would begin tilting the wrong way.