Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Letterkenny General Hospital needs more beds, not another HSE political stunt - Mac Lochlainn

Published: 7 August, 2006

Sinn Féin Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has said the only way to end the ongoing crisis in Letterkenny General Hospital's accident and emergency department is to invest public money in the public hospital and immediately deliver or fast track the extra beds and promised new A&E ward. The Sinn Féin candidate for Donegal North East said the HSE's latest plan to reward hospitals for high performance with additional consultants as an incentive for improvement is like putting the cart before the horse and is a ridiculous concept.

He said, "The reality is that Letterkenny General Hospital is already working at it's maximum capacity and the only way they are going to meet the conditions set out by the HSE is if they receive extra funding. However, the HSE say they will only receive the extra consultants when they meet their targets. This is a ridiculous concept and is like putting the cart before the horse. It shouldn't even be considered.".

"The issue of the appointment of consultants and the operation of A&Es is and should be entirely separate. Consultants are appointed on the basis of need. Are the HSE now suggesting that for example, the appointment of a much needed consultant rheumatoligist or a much needed consultant for diabetes in Letterkenny and Donegal is to be linked to how many trolleys are in A&E and not the need of patients?"

"The only way to solve the crisis in our accident and emergency departments is to invest public money in public hospitals. Public money and land that has been allocated for the private health sector should be retracted and redirected into the public system."