'Staff are exhausted, they are ready to collapse', hospital protest hears

The pained experiences of exhausted staff at Letterkenny University Hospital were outlined on Saturday.

A Day of Action protest was held on Saturday to highlight overcrowding issues that continue to wreck havoc at LUH.

Despite a lower-than-hoped-for crowd turning up, a passionate demonstration sent a clear message to healthcare chiefs that the current situation won't be tolerated.

Around 200 people attended the protest.

Organiser, Donegal Aontú Rep Mary T Sweeney of the Letterkenny Hospital Campaign said a Hospital Action Committee would be formed with names taken of interested parties. Further demonstrations will be planned if the crisis continues.

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“It is such a sad reflection when you go into the hospital for a service and a senior nurse you respect says to you: 'It's not the job that it used to be',” Ms Sweeney said.

“We need to turn that around again and make it a very enjoyable career for our young people.

Management needs to engage with the nurses, doctors and the consultants to see how exactly we can resolve this issue.

“We need people to sit down and talk to each to address the problems because it is obvious that the system we have in place is simply not working.”

The establishment of a minor injury clinic in Letterkenny was put forward as one possible solution to alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department at LUH.

Two weeks ago, HSE figures marked at 8am each morning showed that 56 people waited for at least 24 hours for a bed at LUH, which is frequently among those with the highest volume of people awaiting admission.

Ms Sweeney said: “If we had a minor injury clinic, it would also alleviate the pressure on the GPs. It is common sense.

“St Conal's is sitting there, crying out for one. That would immediate relieve pressure and give the staff an easier way to approach their work.”

Betty Holmes of Donegal Cancer Care outlined from the platform how services like centres of excellence, prostate rapid access and breast check units are all below the Galway-Dublin line on the map of Ireland.

“There is a national crisis, but the reality is that our health system in Donegal has been in crisis for a long number of years,” Ms Holmes said.

“Letterkenny University Hospital has been neglected and it has been excluded. The sick people of Donegal have been discriminated against.

“Services at Letterkenny University Hospital are constantly being stripped. The resources aren't going into it. There is excellence in the hospital, but the staff are exhausted; they are ready to collapse. They can't keep going.

“What the hell is wrong? They have told us to stop sending the map with every letter. We do it, lest they forget. Why is there a refusal and a reluctance to invest in Letterkenny University Hospital and the healthcare service in Donegal? The reality seems to be: 'To hell with the sick people of Donegal.”

DACC was formed 18 years ago and the group lobbied long and hard for the placing of a permanent breast surgeon in Letterkenny.

Ms Holmes said: “We could write a book about our experience. There is a perception that our focus is just on cancer. Yes, they are cancer services, but what is sometimes forgotten at regional and national levels is that cancer patients need more than cancer services.

“DACC came about to get a permanent breast surgeon. We had to take to the streets to do that. We have fought tooth and nail.”

Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn was present with Donegal County Councillors including Gerry McMonagle, Ciaran Brogan, Patrick McGowan, Michael McClafferty, Donal Coyle, Donal Kelly, Kevin Bradley, Niamh Kennedy and Gerry Crawford.

Councillor McMonagle, the Chairperson of the HSE Western Regional Health Forum, told the gathering that the crisis hasn't happened overnight, highlighting the fact that there are now a fewer number of acute beds than in 2006.

“A lot of this is down to government inaction and government policy,” Councillor McMonagle said.

“We knew this would be a tough winter and there was nothing done. There was no plan put in place for the healthcare workers.

“This isn't a new thing because it happens every winter. It is exasperated because of a shortage of beds and a shortage of doctors and nurses.

“It is an absolute disgrace and we in Donegal deserve better.”

A minute's silence was held for people who have died as a result of hospital overcrowding.