A consultant cardiologist has been appointed to review cardiac care at University Hospital Waterford in line with a commitment in the programme for government.

Dr Niall Herity, who works in Belfast Trust Hospital, has been tasked with considering the provision of cardiac care at the Waterford hospital.

His terms of reference include considering the need for a second catheterisation laboratory at the hospital by examining the needs of the population and the workload of the current laboratory.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has given Dr Herity six weeks to present a report on whether a second laboratory is warranted.

The review was requested by Waterford TD John Halligan, who pledged his support to the minority Government on the basis that a review was granted.

Mr Halligan said he was confident it would demonstrate the need for a second laboratory at the hospital.

“There is currently an 18-month waiting list for angiograms, while inpatients with serious cardiac problems are currently waiting over seven days for their procedure. The national guideline is 24 hours.

“There was never a local issue and was never a constituency deal.

“Waterford is the only designated cardiology hospital in the country that does not have a consultant on-call at weekends.”