Management at Letterkenny University Hospital has been urged to do more to free up theatre hours to prevent the hospital from becoming “a waiting room to go somewhere else”.
The hospital outsourced 2,066 patients on the Day Services Waiting list last year.
A further 151 day case surgeries at LUH were cancelled due to the hospital being in escalation.
In total, 4676 day case surgeries were performed in the Letterkenny Day Services Unit in 2024.
The main issue impacting theatre availability is overflow from the busy emergency department, a meeting of the Regional Health Forum West heard.
“Far too many patients are being referred elsewhere from Letterkenny University Hospital,” said Letterkenny Councillor Ciaran Brogan.
Cllr Brogan said that clinical leaders in the hospital have spoken out about the lack of availability of theatre space.
“As a matter of urgency, we need to look at what we can do to try and extend the hours, if it means Saturday or Sunday,” Cllr Brogan said.
“It’s time to have a fresh look at this,” he added. “If the consultants are telling us they want more time in the theatre and they are not able to get it, that to me is a serious problem.”
Dermot Monaghan, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Donegal said that the HSE is working to open more beds in the hospital and in community hospital settings.
He reported that there are currently 47 beds closed in the long-term care unit, which the hospital is working with HIQA to facilitate their reopening.
Forum members were also told that the 110-bed community nursing unit opposite the hospital, due for completion in 2026, will include 50 short stay beds for rehabilitation as a part of the transfer of care from the hospital.