Minister McHugh
LETTERKENNY hospital is to get a new consultant breast surgeon, TD Joe McHugh has said.
The Fine Gael minister told Donegal Daily: “I have received confirmation today from the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar’s office, that the HSE will be introducing a new Consultant breast surgeon post at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH).
“Following a number of recent meetings and discussions which I had arranged in Dublin with all the key stakeholders, and following much hard work on everyone’s part, I am delighted that we have received confirmation that a second surgeon post will be advertised for LUH in order to provide additional support for the Letterkenny symptomatic breast disease service, while adhering to the case volume principle. The new Consultant breast surgeon post, will be working with Letterkenny University Hospital and University Hospital Galway, the designated cancer centre.
“Throughout these discussions the concern of all parties was to ensure the maintenance of a quality symptomatic breast service within the Saolta Group; the delivery of a safe and also sustainable solution for the LUH Symptomatic Breast Service, and also ensure the Hospital has the capacity to maintain a quality emergency surgery service; and the creation of a shared post that will prove attractive to potential applicants, both in respect of the range and volume of work undertaken, and also the avoidance of unnecessarily onerous travelling requirements.
“I want to acknowledge the vital part that was played by Donegal Action for Cancer Care (DACC) and Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest, CCC(NW), in ensuring that this issue remained a priority for both the Dept of Health and the Saolta Group and also commend them for working together to help achieve this positive result.
“The issue of sustainability will be critical in the future not only in respect of the Consultant Breast Surgeon post but also in the recruitment of other key members of the Symptomatic Breast Service Team such as Consultant Breast Radiologists. The Dept of Health has also commenced discussions with Altnagelvin Hospital which would be of great benefit to patients in Donegal, reducing the length of travel that would be involved and helping to manage patient numbers at LUH.
“I have been advised that additional clinics will be set up by Saolta to address the back log of cases, with the intention to recruit a locum while a suitable candidate is found, with immediate application by Saolta to the Consultant Applications Advisory Unit. In combination with the recently advertised general surgeon post in LUH this would significantly enhance services in the hospital.”
