SF deputies to raise external hospital review in Dáil Éireann tonight

Sinn Féin deputies Pádraig Mac Lochlainn and Pearse Doherty are due to discuss the need for an external of Letterkenny University Hospital with the Minister for Health in Dáil Éireann this evening. 

Seventy-eight Donegal-based GPs and eleven hospital consultants have written to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelley, outlining serious concerns that they have with hospital services and the impact it is having on patient care.

Earlier today, the Chief Executive of the Saolta Hospital Group, Tony Canavan told Highland Radio, that he has written back to the GPs and would be happy to work with them. 

He said: "One of the key things they were saying in their letter, which I think is different, is certainly unprecedented in my time, is that they were looking to engage directly in the process of planning how the health services across the region, including within the hospital are developed and I think that is a really good development - a very positive development."

He said he has written back to the GPs and said he is happy for such engagement. He added that he believes that everyone should be working together and 'coming up with solutions' together.