The Dungloe Hospital Beds Lobby Group is seeking a meeting with the Minister for Health to get five more beds open at the facility.
Beds back at Dungloe Hospital.
The group had a meeting in Dungloe this week to update on recent developments as well as plan for stage of their plan.
It follows on from a very well attended Public meeting held in Dungloe to discuss an action plan for the unit.
The group met with the local HSE officials to discuss the plans of the HSE in relation to the re-opening of beds at Dungloe Community Hospital.
The group were assured that once staffing issues were effected that the beds would re-open. This would require both Union and management input. This has now occurred and five beds were recently re-opened and are now occupied by additional patients. This is welcomed by the Group.
The Group have agreed a follow up meeting with the local HSE management which will take place within the coming weeks at Dungloe Hospital.
The group have met recently with Minister Dinny McGinley to outline the concerns voiced at the Public meeting as well as requesting a meeting with the Minister for Health, James Reilly.
The group have requested this meeting in order to present an exceptional causes case regarding Dungloe Community Hospital and the unique nature of the West Donegal area and the demographics involved.
The objective is to work towards a situation which would enable the Hospital management to overcome the embargo on recruitment and replacement so as to re-open a further five beds which remain close due to staffing shortages. Minister McGinley has committed to arranging this meeting and the group expect that it will happen in the coming weeks.
The lobby group report that there is a positive working relationship between the Public representatives, Donegal HSE officials, Hospital Management, Union officials and Minister McGinley in the attempts to restore all beds to capacity at the Hospital.
A spokesman for the group said “There have been genuine and understandable delays in the re-opening of the beds but also a strong determination by the lobby group to continue the fight to have Dungloe Community Hospital restored to capacity use. The public will be kept fully informed of the outcome of all meetings.”
The recent Lobby group meeting was attended by Pat The Cope Gallagher, David Alcorn, Charlie the Yank Boyle, Marie Therese Gallagher, Frank Campbell, Kathleen McGonagle, Pat Glackin, Fr Matt McInerney.
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