SINN Fein TD Padraig MacLochlainn said today that he fears for the future of Letterkenny General Hospital as half a billion euro was today slashed off the health budget.
Deputy MacLochlainn said the local hospital was “the most efficient in the country” yet it faced an overspend of €8M this year.
“The cuts announced today are just not sustainable. The Government needs to explain how they can make half a billion euro worth of cuts in the health area and expect hospitals to continue,” he warned.
He said ‘best practice’ was being kicked to one side because of the recruitment ban, pointing out that a diabetes expert was needed in Letterkenny but hadn’t been hired.
“That leaves 161 children in Co Donegal without access to that care which and therefore not being treated as best practice says,” said Deputy MacLochlainn.
Minister Brendan Howlin earlier announced €543m is to be cut in health, with extra charges on private treatment in public hospitals, and 2% ‘efficiencies’ in disability, mental health and children’s services.
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