Fianna Fáil Deputy Charlie McConalogue has called for a clear commitment from Government for emergency funding to reinstate all services at Letterkenny General Hospital.
The Donegal Deputy has said any delay in repairing unprecedented flooding damage and replacing essential equipment could have major implications for the hospital and for the health services in Donegal.
“This level of damage to a major hospital is unprecedented. Letterkenny is an extremely busy facility providing a vast range of vital services to patients from right across the North West. We simply cannot afford any delays in getting the hospital back up and running to full capacity,” said Deputy McConalogue.
“I welcome the fact the Health Minister James Reilly visited the hospital at the weekend and committed to working with management. However, what the hospital also needs from the Minister at this stage is a firm commitment to releasing emergency funding, so that all the necessary repair works can be carried out and vital equipment can be replaced.
“This is an unprecedented crisis and it warrants an exceptional response from the Department of Health and the HSE. Letterkenny General Hospital is the epicentre of health service provision in Donegal and it is crucial that all services are maintained at the hospital.
“Questions must be asked about how a new building could suffer such a calamitous event. The onus is on the Minister, his Department and the HSE to investigate this disaster fully, identify any structural problems and establish how such a disaster can be avoided in the future.
“I want to commend the immense effort from all involved in the emergency response to the flooding. The hospital staff, management, fire service, army, local authority officials and 500 community volunteers went above and beyond the call of duty, working around the clock in the recovery and clean-up effort. It is a testament to the commitment not just of our local emergency workers, but also of the community as a whole.”
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