What is life like for those working in and receiving treatment in Ireland’s regional hospitals? That’s the question we asked on The Pat Kenny Show as part of the Your Hospital, Your Health series.

With three reports from around the country, and a medical panel Friday Forum discussion to finish the week, we examined life at three regional hospitals: Waterford, Drogheda and Roscommon/Galway.

Our reporters spoke to staff, patients, families and people in the supporting medical profession in these regions to get a picture of hospital care outside the capital.

INTERACTIVE: Waiting times & overcrowding in hospitals across Ireland

We heard of overcrowding, waiting lists for consultants and outpatient care, ambulance waiting times and facilities in hospitals – and the real effect these issues had on the people dealing with them.

We began with a visit to University Hospital Waterford (UHW), a major healthcare centre in the south east and one beset by its own range of issues, including some of the nation's longest waiting lists.

"I'm completely lost without him"

Reporter Richard Chambers met with the Bergin family to discuss their experience in Waterford hospital.

Paula Bergin died at the hospital last June having been initially admitted for what were thought to be gallstones; but soon it became clear she had cancer.

Richard met Paula’s husband Stephen - or Stan - and her sister Alice - who reflected on her final moments in a busy ward.

As well as the Bergins, he also spoke with the wife of Andy Doherty.

Andy, who was 82, died last November at the hospital. Andy was an active man for his age, despite having a number of stents in his heart. He’d just had his fifth stent in and was recovering in hospital when Rita picks up the story.

Their principal complaint is that he was not admitted to the cardiac unit and their was no specialist cardiac consultant available that weekend to give him a fighting chance of survival.

You can hear their stories here in the report:

Below you’ll find some information on UHW.