I propose to take Questions Nos. 1703 to 1706, inclusive, 1708 to 1710, inclusive, and 1960 to 1965, inclusive, together.
Sligo University Hospital provides a range of cardiology services, including inpatient cardiology unit, non-invasive cardiology such as Echo and TOE, Stress Testing, BP, Holter and Event Monitoring providing direct GP access. Clinics covering cardiology, heart failure and pacemaker are also in place, along with a cardiac rehabilitation service. In addition, the hospital had a Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory service operating 1 to 2 days per week (a mobile service provided by a private company) delivering diagnostic angiographies, with referral pathways to Galway University Hospitals for Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs) and other speciality Cardiology interventions up to the 30th June 2022.
Following the decision of this private company to cease the mobile Cath Lab Services at Sligo University Hospital, the Saolta Group worked with hospital management on possible contingency measures. The service will now be temporarily be provided at University Hospital Galway (UHG) with designated access provided for Sligo patients at the UHG Cath Lab Unit.
Design and decisions related to the development and delivery of specific cardiology services in Sligo have been in development over a number of years. The National Review of Cardiac Services is in the final stages and is due to be completed shortly and will be considered for ongoing development.
This review will set out the roadmap for future delivery for cardiac services nationally.
The aim of the Review is to achieve optimal patient outcomes at population level with particular emphasis on the safety, quality, and sustainability of the services that patients receive by establishing the need for an optimal configuration of a national adult cardiac service.
This aligns with the Sláintecare reform programme. In terms of scope, the National Review covers scheduled and unscheduled hospital-based services for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac disease in adults.
There is ongoing engagement on the development of services at Sligo hospital, with a number of meetings held over the last 2 years including with TDs from the locality to provide them with an update on developments in relation to cardiac services.
Developments at the hospital are being progressed in line with national strategic planning, capital planning and the annual estimates process as appropriate.