HSE executives downgraded the risk posed to patients by the lack of cardiac facilities at University Hospital Waterford two weeks before an official review found that 24/7 cover was not sustainable.
The change was made without the knowledge of staff in the hospital, who say it lacks justification.
The risk that patients may receive suboptimal care in Waterford because of the lack of out- of-hours service and a second catheterisation lab to treat serious heart condition has been listed in the risk register of the South/South-West hospital group since 2013.
Last April, the rating attached to this risk was 20, on a scale with a maximum of 25.
The register lists potential impacts from the risk, including adverse outcomes for patients, a failure to meet Hiqa standards, poor public image and loss of public confidence, potential litigation and a curtailment of services.
Other impacts listed are a lack of private income when private rooms are used for isolation purposes and possible non-detection of infections.
Second catheterisation lab
On August 23rd, the rating was changed to 16, an updated register seen by
The Irish Times
shows. The colour coding attached to the risk on both registers is red. Last week, the
Department of Health
published an independent review which recommended against a second catheterisation lab in Waterford and said some advanced cardiac services should be transferred to Dublin and Cork.
A spokesman for the hospital group said: “The entry regarding interventional cardiology in Waterford has not changed over the past six months.
“All red risks are reviewed on a monthly basis by senior hospital management, and all possible controls are put in place to reduce or eliminate them.”
The risk register is maintained by group chief executive Gerry O’Dwyer, who is based in Cork.
The current controversy has aggravated existing tensions over the allocation of resources between hospitals in Waterford and Cork.
Within the Health Service Executive, risks rated at 15 and above are colour-coded in red. A risk of 15 is regarded as “moderate”, while one at 20 is regarded as “major”.
Cardiac services
Separately, local politicians in Waterford, consultants at the hospital and officials from the hospital group met on Wednesday to discuss the report and the campaign to provide 24/7 cardiac services in Waterford.
The meeting agreed the consultants, who have described the report as “flawed”, had “real and genuinely valid views worthy of consideration”.
The meeting welcomed the report’s conclusion that services at Waterford’s sole cath lab should be extended, but said this was not sufficient to enable the hospital to provide “much- needed” cardiology services in the region.
Those present also agreed to seek a meeting with Minister for Health Simon Harris on the implications of the report.
The attendance included Minister of State and local TD John Halligan, who had threatened to resign if the Government did not agreed to fund expanded cardiac services at the hospital.
