CROWDS HAVE BEEN gathering outside Waterford University Hospital this evening, to demand that a cath lab for the region be provided as a matter of urgency.

The calls for a cath lab, or cardiac unit, have been an ongoing issue in Waterford – and was an election promise given by Minister of State and local TD John Halligan.

The debate has flared up again this week after Thomas Power (40) died while being transported  in an ambulance from the Waterford hospital to Cork.

Although the space and equipment was available at the Waterford unit, a transfer was necessary due to staff shortages.

His family said that Thomas was “a healthy man”, so they weren’t initially too concerned. He was recently married and his wife is expecting a child.

Locals are gathering this evening in memory of Thomas, and to ask for the immediate resources to prevent this happening again.

The government promised to deliver on a mobile cath lab for Waterford before the end of the year.

Read: Family calls for improved cardiac services at Waterford after man dies during ambulance transfer

Read: Halligan urges Fianna Fáil to call election after his mobile cath lab deal criticised