The HSE has defended criticism of its handling of patient admissions at Ballyshannon Community Hospital.
It follows claims by local county councillor Michael McMahon (SF) that local patients who should have been put in the hospital were not.
He told a meeting of Donegal Municipal District that some local patients were being placed as far away as Dromahair in Co Leitrim but the fact that beds in Ballyshannon were empty.
Calling it unacceptable, the Sinn Fein councillor said the situation was being ‘mishandled’ by the HSE.
But today the HSE has released a statement in a bid to address the situation.
The statement said “The HSE are pleased to confirm that admissions to the Garden View Unit in Ballyshannon Community Hospital has commenced on the 18th July, 2024. Further admissions will continue over the coming weeks.
“Recruitment for the Hospital is actively ongoing with a number of campaigns recently being relaunched. HSE Management continue to engage with local staff and their representatives supported by the Workplace Relations Commission.
“This will mark the second phase of the hospitals opening plan, with the first phase of the opening of the new facility having taken place in February 2024 when the existing 26 residents in the community Nursing Unit based at the Rock were transferred to this new facility.”
