Deputy Pearse Doherty has slammed both the HSE and the Minister for Health for the continued disruption being experienced by service users of respite supports provided at Falcarragh Community Hospital.
The Sinn Fein Deputy said the facility continues to struggle with inadequate staffing levels.
Deputy Doherty was reacting to correspondence received from the HSE today in which it was confirmed that appointments to the service are now being reviewed each week due to a number of nursing vacancies yet to be filled at the unit, as well as a high number of staff members either currently off work due to illness or on annual leave.
Deputy Doherty said “In recent weeks, I have been contacted by an increasing number of families who have loved ones who are regular users of the respite unit in Falcarragh Community Hospital to express their frustration at being unable to access respite supports over the last few weeks.
“These are families and friends of patients who often avail of the service as they have great faith in its staff and feel that the level of care provided to service users is exceptional.
“Following having received their concerns I immediately sought clarification from the HSE and an explanation for the disruption which, now during the holiday period, is understandably causing these families great upset and inconvinence.
“I’ve today received confirmation from HSE Management that staffing issues are hampering the unit’s ability to accept appointments and provide respite services to patients.
“It’s been confirmed that there are currently three nursing vacancies at the facility and while all three have been approved, none have yet been filled.
“The HSE has also cited the increased number of staff either on holiday leave or taking time off work due to illness as another reason for service users being unable to access respite care.
“Management claims that they are now prioritising the most in need cases for respite, and that appointments for the service are being reviewed on a weekly basis.
“Clearly, the problem of inadequate staffing levels and the unit being unable to recruit additional staff is not isolated to Falcarragh and is something which we now see replicated across a number of similar facilities across Donegal.
“The major challenges experienced in terms of recruiting staff as well as insufficient staffing numbers are both as a direct result of Government policy and they are problems which are still not being addressed.
“While I continue to make representations on behalf of these families, I am again calling on the Minister to take notice of this issue and take all the action necessary to urgently resolve what has become a major problem across the entire community hospital network.”