The opening date for the long-awaited Acute Stroke Unit at Letterkenny University Hospital has been pushed back to December or early January 2021.
The unit was planned to open in September, however this was postponed to next month at the earliest.
Saolta has confirmed that the necessary staff have now been recruited for the facility.
“The current outbreak of COVID 19 in the hospital is providing significant staffing challenges for the hospital but we are still working hard towards opening it in December or at the latest in early January,” said Tony Canavan, CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group.
The opening of the unit comes after a major local campaign spearheaded by hospital consultant Professor Ken Mulpeter.
The confirmation on the opening date came in response to questions raised at the Regional Health Forum West by Councillor Ciaran Brogan on patient care and developments at LUH.
Cllr Brogan was also informed that the phased opening of the additional maternity theatre at LUH is on schedule for mid-December.
The hospital is also working to recruit the two additional radiographers for the maternity theatre CT scanner.
Updates were also provided on renal and urology services. Mr Canavan confirmed that enabling works are underway in the hospital’s renal unit including the replacement of the water supply system. Saolta is set to continue to seek funding for the development of this project.
In relation to the urology service, Saolta said it has now appointed two permanent consultants and when they are in post, together with the appointment of a 2nd post in Sligo University Hospital there will be a 24/7 urology services in the North West.