LIFFORD COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FACES AXE – BEDS TO GO AT OTHERS

Community hospitals across Donegal could be under threat of closure according to an internal HSE document, the Irish Daily Mail is reporting.

Lifford Community Hospital will close with the loss of 20 beds and dozens of jobs, says the paper.

Long-term care hospital beds at community hospitals in Carndonagh, Buncrana and Ramelton would also go, if Health Minister Dr James Reilly follows the recommendations of an internal HSE management report.

In total nationally 840 beds will close, says the paper.

The news come as the county’s main hospital in Letterkenny struggles with a lack of staff and huge numbers of patients.

Clinics have been cancelled this week as hero staff try to cope.

Today sources at Lifford told donegaldaily.com: “We’ve all been reading the Mail. It’s frightening stuff for staff but even worse for the patients and their families.”