Concerns have been raised after a mobile cath lab has been approved for tender for University Hospital Waterford.

Sinn Féin TD for Waterford David Cullinane welcomed the announcement, however he said Waterford needs a "permanent solution".

Deputy Cullinane said: "The HSE was able to tell me hat the tender for the mobile cath lab will go live in the next week or so. This is to be welcomed.

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"The process will take about six weeks until contracts are signed. Then it will take another couple of weeks to prepare the site. Overall, it will take two to three months until it is finally operational.

"I wish to acknowledge that this is good for Waterford. However, I am still concerned that the service level agreement with Cork University Hospital will remain in place.

"In other words, patients will continue to be transferred to Cork even when the mobile lab is up and running.

"Also, the mobile lab will only be in place for a couple of months before it is moved to another hospital. In other words, we could be back to where we were by the end of the year.

"Waterford needs a permanent solution."

(CD/LM)