In light of the announcement, Deputy McConalogue has called on the Health Service Executive to make a firm commitment to a date for the reinstating the rheumatology service in Letterkenny.
Deputy McConalogue commented: “The news that work on the extension to Letterkenny General Hospital is set to resume on Monday will come as a major relief to patients in Donegal and to the staff who have been waiting for too long for this much needed development.
“The €22 million extension, which includes a new emergency department and medical assessment unit, was almost complete when the building firm went into receivership last November. The project is now a year behind schedule and staff have been struggling to deal with unacceptable levels of overcrowding as they wait for the essential new facilities.
“I wholeheartedly welcome the news that an agreement has now been reached which will allow the sub-contractors involved to get back to work to finish the development from next week. I am hopeful that the project can be finished next year and that when completed, it will help alleviate some of the current pressures on services at the hospital.
“Now that we have this breakthrough, the HSE is in a position to fulfil its commitment to reinstating the rheumatology clinic at Letterkenny Hospital. We cannot continue a situation where so many Donegal patients requiring rheumatology services are forced to travel to Manorhamilton for treatment. I am calling on the HSE and the Minister for Health James Reilly to immediately confirm a date for when we will have a rheumatology clinic back in Letterkenny as soon as the hospital extension is complete.”
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