Over £10m of Welsh Government investment to enable hospital cardiac units to replace key laboratory equipment has been announced.
Key cardiac procedures, essential for the delivery of modern cardiology services such as coronary angiography and the fitting of pacemakers are carried out in catheterisation labs.
The funding will be used to replace the imaging and monitoring systems at seven out of the 10 catheterisation labs in Wales. The remaining labs are not currently due for replacement.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething said:
“We are committed to improving heart disease services in Wales. We continue to invest in cardiology services and are enabling hospitals to provide fast and effective treatment for patients diagnosed with heart conditions as close as possible to home.
“Swift diagnosis is so important to ensure people who need treatment have the best chance for a positive outcome.”
Health boards across Wales have received the following investment:
- Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has received £1.77m for the lab at Royal Gwent
- Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board has received £2.43m for Morriston hospital and £1.66m for Princess of Wales hospital
- Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has received £1.52m for Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
- The two labs at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have received £2.48m
- Cym Taf University Health Board has received £0.81m for the lab at Royal Glamorgan hospital