THERE have been renewed hopes that the west of Ireland may yet secure a cardiac surgical unit which was allocated to Dublin in controversial circumstances last month.
The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, has promised to review the decision of the previous government to situate the unit in St James's Hospital in Dublin.
During a meeting with the Galway West TD, Mr Frank Fahey, the Minister promised to reopen the files on the matter over the next couple of weeks.
The decision to locate the new unit in St James's Hospital was attacked by organisations in the west, who claimed that it was unfair to have three cardiology units in Dublin, one in Cork, and none in Connacbt.
"I explained to the Minister that three units in Dublin did not stand up to reason and I appealed to him to reverse the decision made by the previous government," Mr Fahey said.