“Until the lambs become lions”

“Rise and rise again,

Like the Phoenix from the ashes,
Until the lambs become lions.”

A very appropriate quote for our magnificent Under 21 Hurlers, who wrote their names in to the history books, over the weekend. These young men, who played their part in the Minor Final in 2013, grew in stature and won Waterford’s, second only, under 21 All Ireland Championship, in the last 24 years. This is only our seventh All Ireland Hurling Championship title, in total, and was long overdue.

The People’s Park was awash with blue and white on Sunday afternoon, as thousands waited patiently for the team to return home to Waterford. The JJ Kavanagh bus eventually pulled up outside the Park and the team were introduced to the waiting crowd.

This truly was an astonishing TEAM effort, in the biggest sense of the word. As backroom staff, medical staff, fitness staff, coaches, selectors, analysts etc, even the bus driver, were ALL credited in playing their part in the victory in Semple Stadium, on Saturday afternoon. Thurles was an ocean of blue and white. Such Galway support in attendance, was simply swamped and overwhelmed by the Deise marauding hoards.

From Waterford, the team moved onto Dungarvan to receive their second home coming, from the supporters in the “Wesht” of the County. Once again thousands turned out to welcome these young warriors, who will without doubt go on to help the Senior team bring home that ever elusive Liam MacCarthy Cup.

This was not a day for political pontificating and thank goodness there was none to be heard. For once the political rhetoric was left in the wings and we could give 100% attention to the whole team, who quite literally filled the stage with the exuberance of youth – it was a day to remember.

In the week that was, it would be hard to get away from all the shenanigans surrounding Mr Herity’s “Independent Clincal Review of Provision of a Second Catheterisation Laboratory at University Hospital Waterford” (note the spelling mistake “Clincal” (sic) – I wonder if that is a portent of things to come?). This is a tough document to read and digest, but is readily available on the old interweb should you have a few hours to spare.

Whilst I was absorbing the atmosphere, in the Park, I started to wonder if our political glitterati actually got the message, from the Hurlers, that there is no “I” in team. Ah yes, there is a “Me” and perhaps they feel that politics is about the individual rather than the collective. It certainly appears that way when it comes to the provision of a second catheterisation laboratory at UHW.

We are now seeing knee jerk reactions. Hearing political claim and counterclaim. Spin on a biblical scale across all manner of social media, yet we are far from a TEAM on this matter. When you also consider that the UHW has a regional provision, then I start to get even more worried in terms of a united front – there is not one!

Whilst, we argue and fight, the Minister of Health, other hospitals, rub their medical hands in glee, as they do not have to find extra resources, from already stretched budgets, to fund an adequate health service in the South East region, through UHW.

It is FACT that NO party is prepared to actually put in writing that exchequer funds will be ring fenced and made available, to upgrade services, providing that essential second catheterisation laboratory. I MEAN NO PARTY!

All the political pomposity has resulted in every opposition party stating that “They will deliver what is required”. But no one is prepared to set this in stone. No one will commit to this in writing or sign on the dotted line!

To this extent our representatives should be ashamed.

We have one opportunity to pull together and work as a TEAM to deliver for Waterford. The South East region, needs to work in unison and do what is absolutely necessary to provide adequate cardiac services for the region. Failure to do so will cost lives.

I voted for lions but sadly got lambs....baaa!