Letterkenny University Hospital will be one of a number of hospitals throughout the country hit by planned industrial action by laboratory scientists today.
The HSE is warning of significant disruption and service delays from 8am until 8pm tonight (Wed) due to the planned Industrial Action by the MLSA.
Medical scientists are responsible for over 80% of clinical diagnoses that take place on a daily basis.
Every time you go to the GP for routine bloodwork, a sore throat, or any sort of infection, samples are sent to us to process and we provide the diagnosis and suitable treatment options.
Moreover, hospitals and emergency medicine cannot function without laboratories. Behind every sample and test, there are highly qualified scientists.
The strikes in question are seeking to address a 20-year pay disparity issue, the shortage of medical scientists, and the lack of career progression.
The laboratory in Letterkenny University Hospital provides vital services for the University hospital, all GPs in the area, and all nursing homes and daycare units.
Scientists say they have been left with no option but to down tools.
This will lead to the cancellation of many inpatient and day case elective procedures and hospital outpatient appointments across the country.
All routine GP testing services will be suspended on the day. Some limited services will continue but unfortunately there will be wide scale disruption to patients.
Emergency Departments are already experiencing the knock on effect of this action today as GPs cannot send routine lab tests to hospitals and instead have had to refer patients directly to emergency departments. This is leading to delays for patients with non-urgent care needs and such delays are expected to continue today.
The HSE is continuing to seek further derogations relating to patients in hospitals on Wednesday and for priority scopes.
Emergency Departments will continue as always to prioritise the treatment of the sickest and most urgent patients
Since yesterday hospitals have been contacting patients directly to cancel appointments. As this is a developing situation we would ask patients not to phone hospitals at this time.
Hospitals will provide further clarity and details as soon as possible and information from all hospitals is available on www.hse.ie/disruptions
While efforts are continuing to try to avert this action, the HSE is working with the MLSA to ensure arrangements are in place today for the provision of a limited range of services safely.
Appointments and procedures disrupted by the strikes will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
