'Action day' protest amid fears of 'rising tensions' at Letterkenny hospital

Amid 'rising tensions' among staff at Letterkenny University Hospital, an 'action day protest' has been arranged for later this month.

Last week was the worst on record for overcrowding in Ireland's hospitals and LUH was frequently among those with the highest volume of people awaiting admission.

Experienced Emergency Department nurse Sarah Meagher described working condition as 'inhumane'.

Against this backdrop, Donegal Aontú Rep Mary T. Sweeney has organised the protest for 1pm on Saturday-week, January 21.

“People across Donegal are genuinely anxious, and after hearing various reports of overcrowding and staff shortages emerging from our A&E department,” Ms Sweeney said.

Clerical changes confirmed in Raphoe Diocese

Fr James Gillespie will succeed Bishop-elect Fr Niall Coll as Parish Priest of Tawnawilly in one of the changes announced by the Bishop of Raphoe, Alan McGuckian SJ

“Now is the time for our local communities to stand up and express their alarm at these inhumane and soul-destroying conditions in our hospitals.

“Letterkenny Hospital services may not be your concern today, but what if your family need assistance tomorrow and what difficulties might you encounter trying to access those services?”

According to an Aontú parliamentary question, in 2021 there were 105,000 adverse incidents in the healthcare system - a significant jump over the last number of years.

These are people who have suffered illness, and in some case been disabled or lost their lives, as a result of mistakes in the system.

Ms Sweeney said: “Also numerous stories have been conveyed to me regards rising tension among hospital staff, fanned by what can only be described as burn out and exhaustion.

“Hearing such stories, we should all be concerned as to what happens to patients’ care when nursing staff are stretched to extremes. Obviously patients will suffer.

“I’m asking all people from Donegal to make a firm commitment to come along on the day. Hail, rain, snow or shine, please bring your family and friends as we need a solid show of support for our much needed hospital and demand improved conditions for staff and patients.”

Ms Sweeney said she had been approached by 'several families', who have shared negative experiences, which have been blamed on overcrowding and staff shortages.

She said: “It can be difficult to comprehend the anxiety created by a poor health service if you or family members have not personally encountered this chaos.

“These problems are not happening by accident as our Health Service is designed for a population of 3.5 million people, not 5.5 million people who are resident in Ireland at present.

“There has been a significant population increase and yet our bed numbers decrease. In the last fifteen years the government closed 8 A&Es. Whoever is making these decisions must be challenged head on.”