A review into neurology services in the north west has been pushed back to the third quarter of 2024.
The review was originally due to be completed in Q2.
Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty has accused the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly of sitting on his hands over the lack of neurology outpatient services at Letterkenny University Hospital.
The Donegal deputy said the government has been inundated with demands for a dedicated outpatient neurology service provided by consultant neurologists at LUH.
Patients with serious and disabling neurological conditions are campaigning to be seen quicker and closer to home, rather than in Sligo.
Meanwhile, Deputy Doherty said that the community neuro-rehabilitation team in the northwest is also seriously understaffed and operating with only a third of the required staff.
“Minister, isn’t it time better neurology services were delivered for the people of Donegal and the northwest and what are you going to do about it?,” Deputy Doherty asked Minister Donnelly in the Dáil this morning.
The Minister confirmed that a review, now scheduled for completion in Q3 of 2024, will inform the next steps to be taken.
Minister Donnelly said: “I have asked my department and the HSE to be very cognisant of what the people in Donegal are saying and what the neurology teams in Letterkenny are saying and so we need to let that review run its course and see what recommendations come out of it and if there are recommendations to increase the neurology capabilities in Letterkenny as well as Sligo we will look at very seriously.”
Deputy Doherty demanded to know the cause of the delayed review, adding: “Your department were informed of the issues with neurology services a long time ago, I believe you sat on your hands. For a lot of people, Sligo is a 300km journey. People should have their services more locally.”
Deputy Doherty added that: “This is just another example of Letterkenny University Hospital being in a perpetual state of crisis”, citing waiting lists in diabetes, dermatology, vacant posts and problems highlighted by GPs and consultants regarding the emergency department.
The Minister responded to say: “Whilst there are ongoing pressures in certain services in LUH, I fully accept that, I visited the hospital many times, there have been a signifcant increase in capacity in the lifetime of this government.”
“I want the people of Donegal to be very clear there is a much-deserved, much needed and very important ongoing investment in growth of LUH.”
