'You sat on your hands', Pearse Doherty tells Health Minister on LUH neurology issue

Pearse Doherty has accused the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly of sitting on his hands over a lack of a consultant neurologist at Letterkenny University Hospital.

The Donegal TD told Minister Donnelly that the hospital is “in a perpetual state of crisis” and urged him to fast track a review of neurology services, which he said was already due for completion this year.

Sinn Féin Deputy Doherty told the Dáil that he has been inundated with calls from constituents demanding a dedicated outpatients service with a consultant neurologist at LUH.

He said the neurology department at LUH is “seriously understaffed” and is operating at a third of its capability.

“That won't change under the recruitment embargo brought about by government underfunding,” Deputy Doherty said.

Minister Donnelly, said the HSE's recruitment embargo had 'nothing to do' with the issue. “That particular thing isn't a funding issue,” he said.

Minister Donnelly said he has instructed his Department to contact Letterkenny University Hospital and seek out their perspective on the issue.

He said an outreach service for neurology is available in Sligo, which is operated by three neurological consultants, supported by a wider team with diagnostic works and treatment also delivered in Sligo.

Deputy Doherty hit back when Minister Donnelly said a review into the matter is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of this year.

The Minister said: “I have asked my Department and the HSE to be cognisant of what people in Donegal are saying and what the neurological teams in Letterkenny are saying. If there is a recommendation to increase neurological capabilities, then that is something we will look at very seriously.”

However, Deputy Doherty said the review was already scheduled for completion.

“This isn't the first time I have raised this and all the time, people in my county are denied this service,” he said. “The Department was informed about these issues a long, long time ago. I believe that you sat on your hands. There is a 300km journey for people who should have services more locally.”

Deputy Doherty said that a Model of Care Programme has highlighted the need for a neurologist at Letterkenny University Hospital, which he described as being “in a perpetual state of crisis” and should be upgraded from its status as a university hospital.

He said: “Letterkenny University Hospital cannot go on like this, leaping from crisis to crisis. It seems like every week I could raise a crisis with you about Letterkenny University Hospital.”

Minister Donnelly said he would get his Department to revert to Deputy Doherty regarding the delay of a review and endeavour to cut the time for its completion.

“This isn't about the denial of services,” Minister Donnelly said, although acknowledging that “for many people in Donegal, it is a long way to Sligo”.

The Minister said that a recent new beds plan has been announced and that there has been a significant increase in staff, up by 437 he said in his term.

The Minister said: “I want people to be clear that there is much-deserved, much-needed and important investment and growth in Letterkenny University Hospital."