Sinn Féin Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn has revealed that there has been a “shocking” 33% cut in nurses working in Donegal’s community hospitals down from 239 to 160 since 2006.
He also revealed that there has been a 20% cut in overall staff numbers across the hospitals down from 609 to 486 since 2006.
These latest revelations follow last weeks news that there had been an almost one in four cut in bed numbers across the county’s community hospitals during that same period.
Senator Mac Lochlainn said “Since 2006, Donegal’s community hospitals have endured; a 33% cut in nurses, a 23% cut in bed numbers and a 20% cut in overall staff numbers.
“These figures show once again that Sinn Féin are absolutely right when we say that the serious crisis in our health service has been caused by years of cutbacks and underinvestment by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments.
“The fact that the numbers of nurses working in Donegal’s community hospitals has been cut by one third is truly shocking. Is it any wonder that we have a trolleys crisis at Letterkenny University Hospital when the last three governments have squeezed our community hospitals to the bone?”
He added that the Fine Gael Government and Fianna Fáil who are keeping them in power, need to outline to the people of Donegal, their plan to reinstate and grow the numbers of nurses, beds and staff across all our community hospitals.
“They created this crisis and Sinn Féin will not let them walk away from their responsibilities. I am tired of expressions of concern and sympathy from these party’s representatives in Donegal. They are in power. They need to step up to the plate.
“Sinn Fein’s Health spokesperson Louise O’ Reilly TD will be visiting Donegal tomorrow and meeting the various health campaign groups across the county. She will take the opportunity of visiting our county to outline our party’s solutions and vision for our health service and to reverse the years of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael neglect”.
