The Minister for Health has sanctioned the recruitment of four additional Emergency Medicine Consultants for Letterkenny University Hospital this winter.
A winter plan has been set to lower hospital admissions and promote patient flow across all healthcare settings in the Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo region this winter.
The joint plan will see the recruitment of more emergency consultants and more staff at Letterkenny University Hospital to support and target the discharge of patients at weekends.
To avoid more hospital admissions, staff will also be recruited to maximise community support services including community nursing service and chronic disease hub supports. The HSE also places to recruit a GP Liaison Nurse to support provision of the right care in the right place.
The plan also sets out for an enhanced minor injuries service in the emergency department at LUH, as well as improved GP Access to Diagnostics and Out-of-Hours (OOH) supports.
The joint winter plan incorporates LUH and Community Healthcare services in Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo (CH CDLMS).
Tony Canavan, CEO Saolta University Health Care Group stated “This Joint Winter Plan allocation will increase access for patients to a wider range of services in the community, decreasing demand on acute facilities. These measures will ensure we can provide the best possible support to the population in the coming months.
“Ultimately, reducing long waiting times in our EDs will require more beds in our acute hospitals and in community units and the teams necessary to staff them safely. This plan improves upon already established resources, and provides opportunities for improvement. Through collaboration between disciplines and services we can promote optimal patient care closer to home.”
Dermot Monaghan, Chief Officer, Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo stated “ CH CDLMS will continue to provide supports, through available national funds to support admission avoidance including Community Intervention Teams (CIT), Home Support, Aids and Appliances, GP Access to Diagnostics and GP Out of Hours (OOHs). Investment has been received for the recruitment a GP Liaison Nurse to facilitate admission avoidance. These measures will ensure the continued development of community services and the growth in care to people at home or in community-based HSE facilities so they don’t have to be admitted to hospital unless they really need to be”.
