Sinn Féin TD Pádraig MacLochlainn said the party’s health proposals are needed in Donegal given the excessive waiting lists in Letterkenny University Hospital.
He was speaking at today’s launch of Sinn Féin’s €914m ‘Tackling Waiting Lists’ plan.
“HSE waiting lists in Letterkenny University Hospital are in excess of 23,167. This includes 2,294 children,” Deputy MacLochlainn said.
“In particular, Letterkenny University Hospital needs investment in Orthopaedics and Otolaryngology (ENT) as over 3,000 people remain on each of these lists with more than half of these patients waiting over a year.”
He said the issues with Gynaecology services are also evident in Letterkenny, with more than 1,000 women on the waiting list there.
“Another concern is cardiology, with almost 2,000 patients languishing on the waiting list for that service. Patients are waiting longer than ever to receive care.
Sinn Féin is proposing a fully costed €914m package, including one-off capital investment of €568m, to ‘turn the tide’ in favour of patients and healthcare workers, according to Deputy Pearse Doherty.
“This includes 600 more beds above the government’s current plans, filling more than 600 consultant posts and hiring 4,000 additional hospital staff, and 430 critical care beds by 2025.”