Senator Pádraig MacLochlainn said in government Sinn Féin will transform the county’s health services.
He was peaking after attending a public meeting in Letterkenny on Donegal’s health services.
The Inishowen based Senator said “Health services in Donegal have been decimated by the decades of underfunding by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael led governments.
“17,500 people are on the outpatient waiting list at Letterkenny General Hospital, with over one third waiting for more than one year for their appointment.
“Only half of Letterkenny’s 19 short stay beds have been reinstated since promises to reopen all of them was made by the Health Minister 15 months ago.
“In a shockingly cynical move additional temporary beds were opened by the Minister in Letterkenny Hospital to address overcrowding, but these 10 beds will be closed again a few weeks after the general election.”
He said we also know that delivery of a vital Acute Stroke Unit for Letterkenny has been held back because of the government and HSE’s recruitment embargo. Yet again the people of Donegal have been treated as second class citizens by this government and their partners in confidence and supply.
He added “In government Sinn Féin will reopen all beds in Letterkenny’s short stay ward and deliver the necessary staff to ensure the hospital’s acute stroke unit is made fully operational.
“Over a five-year term in government Sinn Féin will open an additional 1,500 beds across the state; hire and additional 2,500 nurses and midwives; hire an additional 1,000 doctors and provide for 12 million additional home help hours.
“Donegal Deserves Better. Sinn Féin can and will transform our health service. I am asking voters to give Sinn Féin a chance to deliver real change on the 8th of February.” E
