Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Sunday 17°CMonday 18°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
FeaturesHealthNews

FRONTLINE STAFF SAVED HOSPITAL AFTER RUNNING FOR SANDBAGS TO BLOCK FLOOD

written by Stephen Maguire August 6, 2014
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint
The flooding at Letterkenny General Hospital last night.

The flooding at Letterkenny General Hospital last night.

Frontline staff prevented another flooding on the scale of last year’s disaster after they rushed for sandbags to seal up Letterkenny General Hospital, Donegal Daily can reveal.

A hospital insider has revealed how hospital management were reluctant to call the fire service during last night’s heavy downpours.

However, in an amazing act of passion, one worker grabbed a phone from a member of management and demanded the fire service come to the hospital.

The scene last night in the car park at the Emergency Department donegaldaily.com

The scene last night in the car park at the Emergency Department donegaldaily.com

Other members of frontline staff rushed to gather sandbags and placed them at the doors of the Accident and Emergency.

The acts of defiance almost certainly saved the hospital from suffering anther heavy flood disaster which occurred exactly one year and one week ago.

The hospital insider was on duty as torrential downpours sent thousands of gallons of water gushing into the car park of the hospital in front of the A&E Department.

He said “There was a lot of uncertainly about whether to call the fire services or not. In the end this guy grabbed the phone and demanded they come up.

“It was amazing to watch it. A decision needed to be made and it was. God knows what might have happened if it was left any longer.

“A number of staff also rushed to get sandbags and sealed up the two entrances – the public entrance and the ambulance entrance.

“Some water did get in and there was a mess for a while but it took about three hours to clean it up.

“It could have been a repeat of last year but for some quick-thinking and getting the sandbags up against the doors.”

A number of public representatives including Deputies Padraig MacLochlainn, Charlie McConalogue and Cllr Ciaran Brogan visited the hospital last night.

Despite initially diverting patients to Sligo and Derry, the hospital re-opened to the public last night.

There have been calls for Health Minister Leo Varadkar to visit the hospital today amidst other calls for a full public inquiry into the planning process for the hospital.

 

FRONTLINE STAFF SAVED HOSPITAL AFTER RUNNING FOR SANDBAGS TO BLOCK FLOOD was last modified: August 6th, 2014 by Stephen Maguire
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Tags:
floodGardaiLetterkenny General HospitalManagementStaff
Stephen Maguire

Stephen Maguire is the co-founder of Donegal Daily. He has worked as a reporter for almost 30 years starting locally with the Donegal Peoples Press before moving to the Mirror Group. He continues to contribute daily to national media outlets including the Irish Times, RTE, the Irish Independent, Irish Sun, Irish Mirror, Irish Star, the Daily Mail and the Examiner.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Fine weather to return next week as...

4 hours ago

Seamus Coleman pays respects to Diogo Jota...

6 hours ago

Glenswilly GAA hosting Clubhouse Beats teen disco...

6 hours ago

Ghost is Donegal’s dog in the 2025...

7 hours ago

€1,000 college fees hike a “suckerpunch” for...

8 hours ago

Charles Ward opens first 100% Redress Party...

10 hours ago

Falcarragh Summer Cup launch new memorial cup...

12 hours ago

Letterkenny drug-driver put off the road

12 hours ago

Alert: Windyhall road in Letterkenny to be...

13 hours ago

Pvt Sean Rooney’s inquest hears Defence Forces...

13 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.