Family ‘eternally grateful’ for 24/7 Waterford cath lab after ‘serious heart attack’
The family issued a statement to former Waterford TD Matt Shanahan
A family has said it is “eternally grateful” for the cath lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) after a relative suffered a “serious heart attack”.
They issued a statement to former independent Waterford TD Matt Shanahan following the incident.
In the statement, which was posted by Mr Shanahan on social media, the family outlined details of the scare.
They stated: “A member of our family suffered a serious heart attack after attending a sports event in South Tipperary on a recent weeknight.
“They were rushed to Clonmel Hospital by a relative and from there, to UHW by ambulance where staff were waiting at the ambulance bay door to transfer them immediately to the cardiac cath lab.
“They had a successful procedure and required stay in hospital for a further five days. Thankfully, they are now back home and recuperating.”
The family continued by highlighting the work of the staff at the hospital and to those who campaigned for 24/7 cardiac care.
“Our family was left in no doubt as to what a close call this was and that the Cath lab procedure very likely saved our family member’s life.
“We wish to express how grateful we are as a family for all those that campaigned so that this cath lab was available so late at night with the 24/7 schedule only recently put in place.
“It has saved our family from heartbreak and we are so grateful for the wonderful emergency care received and the follow on care throughout.”
They went on to thank the staff at the hospitals in both Clonmel and Waterford for the care they provided.
“We would like to commend and thank the work of the ambulance crews, the A&E staff in Clonmel and Waterford and all the amazing and wonderful cardiac care team at UHW, who were so kind and caring and looked after our family member and relatives so well.
“We are eternally grateful to all the medical doctors and nurses and all other staff for what you did for us.
“We hope that people everywhere appreciate the work that you do.
“Our family member is here with us and recovering and we are beyond thankful to you all.”
Having received this message, Mr Shanahan said it was proof of the quality of the services provided at UHW.
In a post on Facebook, he stated: “It tells us what we should know and appreciate - we have amazing, caring people throughout our healthcare system, who can and do the most amazing and impactful things when given even the barest of resources to achieve them with.
“UHW is an amazing facility and we must never stop fighting to see it fully and properly resourced.”