Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly officially turned the sod on the new Letterkenny Community Hospital this morning, promising further investment in joined-up care between GPs, community care and hospitals.
The Minister was urged to visit Donegal on the back of pleas from 78 Donegal GPs and 11 consultants seeking intervention at Letterkenny University Hospital.
Minister Donnelly’s meeting with GPs this morning was described as “frank, productive and detailed” by doctors, while the Minister said it was a “positive” discussion.
He said: “We’re moving away from a world of disjoint care, where the GPs were largely on their own, community care teams were largely on their own and hospitals were largely on their own.
“We’re moving to joined-up care for patients and if we’re going to achieve what we want to achieve for the people of Donegal in terms of the best possible care when they need it.”
He said the construction of the new €60million Letterkenny Community Hospital is one step of many towards reforming healthcare in Donegal.
The completed development will comprise of 110 beds including a mix of long/short stay rehabilitation and dementia care with associated resident accommodation.
The project was designed by MCA Architects (Dublin) and local contractor Boyle Construction has begun work onsite at the Kilmacrennan Road.
Minister Stephen Donnelly tosses the sod for the new Community Hospital in Letterkenny. (NW Newspix)
The Minister said the government will continue to back healthcare professionals in Donegal and make sure that healthcare works as a single system.
He said: “It’s a big tanker that needs to be turned,” he said. “It is undoubtedly turning, it’s going to take time and facilities like this are going to make all the difference and further investment, further reform, within the hospital itself is going to make the difference so that ultimately we can achieve that thing that we all want to achieve which is universal healthcare.”
General Practitioners in Donegal raised their concerns for patients directly with the Minister and a HSE delegation this morning. They discussed issues across a range of specialisms and gave some detailed anonymised patient stories to articulate some of the concerns the GPs have.
The GPs outlined their three main concerns again, seeking an external review, opening of the Medical Assessment Unit and urgent access to outpatient appointments.
Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister For Health meets with Donegal GP representatives
Dr Pádraig McGuinness, GP in Fanad said “The Minister is clearly here to listen and appears committed to facilitating change and improvement in services to the patients in Donegal. While everything cannot be fixed at once, and we all have a part to play, it is clear that system change is required to get improved access for Donegal patients.”
Dr Ciarán Ó’Fearraigh, GP in Stranorlar said “We were glad to have the opportunity to outline our significant concerns directly to the Minister here in Donegal. We hope that he will honour his commitment here today to focus attention on the unique challenges here in Letterkenny and to work with SAOLTA and the Department to promote change and improvement.”
After medics’ concerns for patients were raised publicly last month, the Health Minister sent a Performance Management and Improvement Unit (PMIU) to examine systems and management at Letterkenny University Hospital.
GPs today received an update from the Minister and his team of the review currently taking place in the hospital and some of the proposed solutions.
“It is hoped that this review will lead to substantial change and that it will be expanded to look at wider issues beyond the Emergency Department,” the GPs representatives said.
Minister Donnelly will meet with hospital consultants and management this afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the meetings, he said: “Whatever challenges there are, we will identify them and we will work with the clinical community and we will work with the management community within the HSE and indeed the broader healthcare community to address them.
“It is important to say that there are a lot of good things being done by our healthcare professionals in Letterkenny Hospital. Sometimes we are blinded to the very good things that are happening and it’s important to call them out as well.
“Within the hospital the waiting lists are falling, the number of people waiting for an outpatient appointment is going down, the number of people waiting for a day case procedure is going down and the number of people waiting for in-inpatient care is going down and that’s not easily achieved.”
Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister For Health at the sod turing for the new Letterkenny Community Hospital on Friday morning from left are Cllr. Martin Harley, Cathaoirleach Donegal County Council, Cllr. Ciaran Brogan, Vice Chair Regional Health Forum, Dermot Monaghan, HSE, Chief Officor, CH CDLMS, Charlie McConalogue, TD., Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister For Health, Cllr. Donal Coyle, Melissa Kelly, HSE, Acting General Manager, Older Person Service, CH CDLMS, John Ruane, Chief Assistant Technical Services, Officer, HSE Captial and Estates and Kevin Gunn, Estates manager, NW. Photo Clive Wasson
Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister For Health and Dermot Monaghan, HSE Chief Officer, CH CDLMS at the sod turing for the new Letterkenny Community Hospital on Friday morning. Photo Clive Wasson
