Specialist emergency team has been assigned to Letterkenny University Hospital
"I will continue to liaise with Minister Donnelly in relation to his confirmation to me of his plan to visit Letterkenny University Hospital as soon as can be arranged" - Minister Charlie McConalogue
The HSE's specialist emergency team has been assigned to Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) to address and assess the challenges at the hospital.
The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly asked the HSE's CEO, Bernard Gloster, to assign the specialist team. Consultants and General Practitioners both wrote to the Minister for Health over the course of the last number of weeks outlining the increasing pressures on the Emergency Department at the hospital.
Minister Charlie McConalogue welcomed the confirmation stating that it's important these concerns are taken seriously and responded to.
"The appointment of the HSE specialist emergency team, who have worked with other hospitals across the country, is a positive step to ensuring that the hospital management and medical leadership team get all the support they require to ensure that the best possible services are provided to patients across Donegal," he said.
He added that the government is firmly committed to making sure Letterkenny University Hospital is supported in every way possible: "Over the last three years, we've seen over 200 extra staff recruited at the hospital and an increase of 24 per cent in its annual budget. We have also seen the delivery of 49 additional acute beds at Letterkenny University Hospital under this government. On the back of the strong support being given to Letterkenny University Hospital by the government, it's important that a strong and efficient service is provided for patients across Donegal," he said.
He said he hopes the appointment of this specialist team will ensure that the hospital gets the support it requires to make sure the emergency department is working effectively, and that every step is taken to ensure the increased presentation that is being seen at the emergency department, which is putting pressures on services, can be managed, and that patients are seen in a timely fashion.
"I will continue to liaise with Minister Donnelly in relation to his confirmation to me of his plan to visit Letterkenny University Hospital as soon as can be arranged. This visit will follow up on his visit ten months ago and will include a meeting with hospital staff and management, as well as GP representatives, regarding the current pressures being experienced by the hospital's emergency department, and how the government can support the hospital and Saolta to address them," he said.