Fourteen backed-up ambulances show ‘misery’ of Letterkenny University Hospital

Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll McNeill, to “end the wilful neglect” of Letterkenny University Hospital.

He said that last week, Letterkenny University Hospital reached “an unprecedented level of crisis” with 14 ambulances backed up outside the emergency department.

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This, he added, is causing ”misery for patients, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and hospital staff”.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn was responding to comments made by the Minister in response to the Donegal Cancer Flights campaign when she was replying to queries about the change in the flight timetable between Dublin and Carrickfinn, which will impact more than 500 patients.

“My bigger question is why it is necessary to travel to Dublin?,” Minister Carroll MacNeill said when asked about the dispute by The Journal.

“I’m trying to expand services within Letterkenny. I made a decision to put a surgical hub there, which was important for breast cancer researchers. For example, I approved the allocation of additional oncology chairs.

“So what I would like is for the people of Donegal to get their cancer treatment as far as possible within Donegal, and not have to be concerned about flights or trains or cars or anything else, to have to go to Dublin.”

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: "In response to questions about the restoration of the same day cancer flights from Donegal to Dublin, Minister Carroll McNeill has spoken fine words about keeping cancer patients in Donegal rather than having to travel to Galway and Dublin by bus, aeroplane and car. We don't need any lectures on the subject of cancer care for our people.

“Donegal cancer campaigners have fought for years for equality in cancer care. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil governments have ignored them again and again. The reason why the removal of the same day cancer care flights has caused such outrage in Donegal and the north-west of Ireland is that we are sick and tired of our loved ones having to travel long distances for cancer care and we are all too aware of the neglect of Letterkenny University Hospital.

“Last week, Letterkenny University Hospital reached an unprecedented level of crisis, with 14 ambulances backed up outside the emergency department. This misery for patients, paramedics, doctors, nurses, and hospital staff goes on and on.

“This is the result of the long years of neglect by one government after another. Letterkenny University Hospital is now the fifth largest hospital in the country based on demand but they have been systematically underfunded for years compared to other hospitals.

“A campaign, led by health care campaigners and over 100 doctors in Donegal finally got the government to listen to us last year and we won the fight for a Surgical Hub and extra cancer care beds. But we are only getting started. Minister Carroll McNeill needs to end the wilful neglect of Letterkenny University Hospital. We demand equality in funding, equality in the allocation of consultants, doctors, and nurses, equality in hospital beds and buildings, and an end to the injustice and discrimination we have endured for too long".