Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has criticised the Health Minister for not visiting Donegal yet to witness the issues at Letterkenny University Hospital.
A group of concerned GPs and Consultants in Donegal are awaiting a visit from Minister Stephen Donnelly after they wrote letters to him highlighting serious concerns about Letterkenny University Hospital.
Minister Donnelly has denied ‘refusing’ to visit the hospital, saying that the offer of a meeting in Leinster House or online still stands.
Deputy Pearse Doherty told Minister Donnelly in the Dáil today: “It is a month on and you still haven’t shown them the respect to actually travel to Donegal and meet them and hear their concerns.”
Deputy Doherty pointed out that on two separate occasions, two weeks in a row, the Minister for Health was not present in the Dáil to debate a topical issue on the crisis in Letterkenny.
Minister Donnelly defended himself by saying he has taken immediate actions to investigate issues at LUH.
“My understanding is that the issues raised are serious. We have immediately sent an expert team to Letterkenny University Hospital because we need to have an evidence-based conversation,” the Minister said.
Speaking to Deputy Doherty, he said: “The GPs are absolutely correct in raising the issue of increased trolley numbers. We are determined to get to the bottom of it. It’s why I’ve sent in the expert group, so that when I meet Minister McConalogue, yourself and GPs in Donegal we can have an informed conversation.”
