UPDATED: 
THE FULL scandal surrounding bed closures in our local hospitals can be revealed today.
More than 100 beds in hospitals used by people in Donegal are now SHUT DOWN, thanks to health cuts.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) survey shows:
* 28 beds closed at Letterkenny General Hospital
* 66 bed closures at Sligo General Hospital
* 8 beds closed at Ramelton Nursing Unit
* and four beds closed Ard Aoibhinn Alzheimer Unit in Carndonagh Community Hospital.
The union says cuts have forced 1,672 beds to close nationally.
The INMO claims the figures show that beds have been closed “due to budget cutbacks and staff shortages in all regions despite the pressure on the health system overall”.
The INMO has renewed its call for all the closed beds to be reopened immediately to help tackle the current overcrowding crisis.
Today a source at Letterkenny General Hospital told us: “Cutbacks are causing massive problems for us. Don’t believe any excuses.”
INMO general secretary Liam Doran said today: “These closed beds, which are both acute and continuing care beds, must be reopened to ease the current crisis and to give patients back their dignity.
“In addition, nursing and other support staff must be employed so that the care required for these patients can be provided in a safe and caring environment.
“With this available resource there is no excuse for the current indignity being suffered by patients and the excessive workloads in a most unsuitable environment being carried by frontline staff.”
* Are you a nurse at Letterkenny or Sligo? Tell us your story in confidence. Email info@donegaldaily.com
