Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
Wednesday 16°CThursday 15°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

sponsor banner
sponsor banner
  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Politics
  • Features
  • Donegal County Council News
News

Mac Lochlainn demands action as trolley figures at Letterkenny hospital soar

written by Staff Writer April 6, 2022
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint

Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the government to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to hospital overcrowding following the publication of the INMO’s Trolley Watch analysis for March.

The figures show an alarming increase at Letterkenny Hospital, as 781 patients have been without a bed this March. This is the highest figure for the month of March ever at the hospital.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn demanded that the Minister for Health take charge of the situation and fix the root causes of emergency department dysfunction to ensure that people in Donegal can get the healthcare they need.

The Sinn Fein TD said “I am seriously concerned by the huge number of people waiting on trolleys at Letterkenny. New figures show 781 people were without a bed this March at the hospital. This compares to half of that in the years before the covid pandemic which was already worryingly high and unacceptable.

“The government must take a zero-tolerance approach to hospital overcrowding to ensure that people in Donegal can get the high quality and timely healthcare they need.

“The Minister must take charge of the situation, root out wasteful or poor management practices, and make sure that hospitals are able to adopt better patient management practices.

“This is not a new issue – patients have been suffering the torturous consequences of overcrowding for years.

“The root causes of emergency department dysfunction are poor patient flow, low hospital capacity, delayed discharges, poor out-of-hours GP coverage and a lack of alternatives in the community.

“There is, without question, a need for more beds and more capacity in diagnostics and surgical theatres, but that is not all.”

He added that there are efficiency reforms that have worked in some hospitals to reduce overcrowding and reduce delays in discharging patients, such as specialist medical wards.

And he added “Above all else, we need to join up community and hospital healthcare. Too often, hospitals are left trying to discharge a patient, but there is no recovery bed available for them. Regional Health Areas will help to streamline this process.

“The long festering problems in primary care and general practice, which are a direct result of not training enough doctors and allied health professionals, need to be dealt with.

“Patients at Letterkenny Hospital deserve better and the government must do everything possible to address this crisis urgently.”

Mac Lochlainn demands action as trolley figures at Letterkenny hospital soar was last modified: April 6th, 2022 by Staff Writer
FacebookTweetLinkedInPrint
Staff Writer

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Arranmore Blueway videos ready for official launch...

7 hours ago

Donegal girl TJ takes big steps ahead...

8 hours ago

Donegal mourns passing of pioneering nun, Sr....

10 hours ago

Cars targeted in vandalism incident in East...

10 hours ago

Two drivers injured in Inishowen collision

10 hours ago

Martin McDermott elected new Mayor of Inishowen...

13 hours ago

Six Donegal bands hit all the right...

14 hours ago

Three heifers and bullock stolen from Manorcunningham...

15 hours ago

Food van vandalised again in Ramelton

18 hours ago

Former Donegal County Manager appointed as chair...

18 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

Donegal County Council

Facebook
Donegal County Council
Advertisement
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2025 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy