Donegal at 'severe disadvantage' with healthcare, says Charles Ward

Donegal TD, Charles Ward criticised the “mind-blowing” inequality between healthcare in Donegal compared to other regions in Ireland.

The 100% Redress TD, speaking at Dáil Éireann, said it was clear that Donegal people were at a “severe disadvantage” in terms of healthcare.

Deputy Ward provided his thoughts during a debate on a Private Members' motion, for fair and sustainable funding for carers, home support and nursing home support schemes. Deputy Ward stated he was in support of the motion and called on the Government to abolish the means test for carers to ensure equal access to financial support, and to recognise the “essential social and economic value of care work in the communities.”

READ NEXT: RNLI urges ‘Float to Live’ if you’re struggling in the water

Community hospitals, said Deputy Ward, would take “significant strain” from larger hospitals and lead to fewer appointment cancellations, citing the 6,000 cancelled operations at Letterkenny University Hospital in 2024, which he described as “outrageous.”

“It is clear that Donegal people are at a severe disadvantage in terms of healthcare and this is outlined in black and white,” stated Deputy Ward. “The inequality between Letterkenny University Hospital and other hospitals is truly mind-blowing. The recent suggestion, for example, to locate a surgical hub in Sligo instead of Letterkenny was a slap in the face for every single person from Donegal.”

He continued: “There are almost 10,700 unpaid carers in Donegal, which is 6% of the county’s population. That is over 10,000 people who do not get a cent for the incredibly difficult and important work they do within their communities, caring for people.

“It is a disgrace and completely undermines the vital role played by carers in supporting older people and people within their homes and communities. It is time the Government valued the essential work of our carers and frontline healthcare workers.”

Sinn Féin’s Pádraig Mac Lochlainn also spoke on the debate and called for better recruitment and pay structures within the home care sector.

He said that “tremendous people” in Donegal were working in services providing home assistance for older people, but they were “being held back by the Government,” stating that the Government’s “pay and number strategy is basically a recruitment freeze.”

“The Government and HSE senior management,” said Deputy Mac Lochlainn, “are preventing the recruitment of home care assistance in Donegal and waiting lists are growing.”

He went on to say: “I would ask the Government to get rid of its pay and numbers strategy, to respect the publicly delivered model we have in Donegal and not to force us to privatise our home care system in Donegal.”