Councillors have called on the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, to step in and make available funding to ensure that the short stay ward at Letterkenny University Hospital is reopened.
Sinn Féin Councillor Adrian Glackin, speaking at a Letterkenny Municipal District meeting, asked that the Council write to the Minister.
The meeting heard that the short stay ward could be reopened with €1.8 million of funding.
“Healthcare in Donegal and the Northwest is very under-funded,” he said.
“We see from the INTO figures that on average, 19 people were on a trolly per day in 2017. That is a very poignant figure as that’s how many beds are in the short stay ward, which is now being used as a store room. That isn’t acceptable at the minute.
“Donegal has been neglected to the point where it has almost been discriminated because of the location. Healthcare should not be because of your address – we should get what we’re entitled to.
“It blows your mind that this could be sorted in eight weeks. The will just isn’t there from the Government.”
Councillor Gerry McMonagle concurred with Councillor Glackin’s comments.
“It’s a serious problem,” Councillor McMonagle said.
“It’s €1.8 million to staff it and open it up again. It is now being used by groups in the hospital, administration, porters and for storage. We need to remind the Minister that the people in Donegal are as much Irish citizens as those in Dublin.”
In reply to Councillor Glackin’s motion, the Council said that Corporate Services will arrange to make contact with the Minister.
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