HSE specialists have started a review at Letterkenny University Hospital on the back of serious warnings from consultants and GPs.
The Performance Management and Improvement Unit (PMIU) was instructed by the Health Minister to study all aspects of services at Letterkenny University Hospital, from the numbers presenting at the emergency department to reducing waiting times, delayed discharges, community care, and GP services.
It follows grave concerns raised by medics, who fear for patient safety as the hospital ED faces relentless overcrowding.
In the past month, crisis calls have come from leading consultants at the hospital as well as 78 Donegal-based GPs, demanding urgent interventions and expressing fears over an impending ‘service collapse’ in the emergency department.
Members of the PMIU visited Letterkenny University Hospital on Friday morning where they met with management.
Donegal cabinet minister, Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the team’s review and expressed his hope that it will lead to better and more efficient systems being put in place at the hospital.
Minister McConalogue said he will be continuing to liaise with Minister Donnelly in relation to the work of the PMIU.
“Minister Donnelly is monitoring the work of the specialist team closely that he has assigned to carry out a review. A visit to Letterkenny University Hospital by Minister Donnelly will be arranged when the team has progressed some of their work,” Minister McConalogue said.
He added: “As Minister I have worked to deliver significant investment in Letterkenny University Hospital. The budget for the hospital has increased from €142.7m in 2019 to €177.8m in 2023 – an increase of 24.5%. As of April 2023, 2,144 people are working at the hospital – an increase of over 20% since 2020.
“There has also been significant investment in services at Letterkenny University Hospital in recent years. Capital projects completed in the last two years include the expansion of gynaecology services, the opening of the acute stroke unit, the provision of an additional endoscopy theatre and a new maternity theatre. Since the end of 2019, 49 additional beds have been delivered to Letterkenny University Hospital.
“It’s important that this level of investment translates into the high level of services we want to see provided in our county, so the appointment of the specialist team by the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, is extremely important in this regard,” Minister McConalogue said.
