A new £6 million cardiac unit was officially opened yesterday at St James's Hospital, Dublin, by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin. It is named after Mr Keith Shaw, one of the pioneers of open-heart surgery in Ireland, who retired in 1987.
Some 450 operations are expected to be performed annually at the new facility by the hospital's three cardio-thoracic surgeons, Ms Eilis McGovern, Mr Vincent Young and Mr Michael Tolan.
The unit comprises a six-bed intensive care facility, a 15-bed cardiac surgery ward and two theatres. Almost 100 staff have been recruited.
St James's has links with cardiologists from St Vincent's and Tallaght Hospitals in Dublin. Patients are referred from all parts of the State.