Joe McHugh TD has complimented the staff of Letterkenny General Hospital for reducing by 61% the number of patients on trolleys at the Hospital in January 2013 when compared with January 2012.
Deputy Joe McHugh
The Fine Gael Deputy says that while he is aware of some instances of long waiting times in A&E which are not acceptable, the 61% reduction is a very significant improvement.
The Letterkenny reduction is part of a 32% reduction recorded in numbers of patients on trolleys across the national hospital network, since the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government took office in early 2011.
Deputy McHugh said “I compliment the staff of Letterkenny General Hospital for achieving this remarkable 61% reduction in the number of patients on trolleys at our hospital.
“The commitment and resourcefulness of Hospital staff have substantially improved patient comfort and dignity over the past 12 months. I am aware of some instances of long waiting times for patients in A&E which are not acceptable, but there has been an overall improvement.
“Minister for Health James Reilly is to be complimented for driving a series of national reforms that have delivered a 32% reduction in the numbers of patients on trolleys across the national hospital network since January 2011. Minister Reilly‚s Special Delivery Unit and the emphasis that he has placed on reducing average length-of-hospital-stay is delivering for patients. Here in Letterkenny length-of-stay was reduced from 8.6 days (ave) to 5.3 days (ave) in 2012. That is a very significant improvement” he said.
He complimented hospital management and staff for achieving these improvements at a time which is difficult for public sector workers.
“Minister Reilly’s new efficiency-based system for allocating hospital budgets has seen a 7% increase in our hospital‚s budget for 2013. This additional funding will allow the hospital to expand and improve services, although it must be said that 2013 will not be a walk in the park for hospital management. Our hospital ran at a deficit last year.
“I will continue to work with Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal HSE Management and Minister for Health James Reilly TD, to protect and develop health services in our county during this time of economic difficulty. I compliment Hospital staff for this significant achievement.”
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