The chairperson of the Letterkenny Hospital Campaign has challenged the Health Minister to back up claims that the hospital has been given extra resources but has failed to increase the number of outpatient clinics.
Mary T Sweeney issued a statement on the matter following an interview given by Minister Stephen Donnelly
She claims the interview charges the management of the Saolta group and the management of Letterkenny University Hospital with a very serious failure in service to patients.
She said “If what he says is true in the interview published in the Irish Times last Friday 6th Jan 2024, then he is charging the management at both local and group level with serious incompetence or negligence and he must ask for their resignation. If it is not true and he is spinning numbers, then he must resign himself”.
“In the interview, Minister Donnelly states that the Letterkenny hospital has been given extra resources but has failed to increase the number of outpatient clinics.
“If the Minister can say this, the Minister should also know and should be able to state publicly where the extra resources have been used.”
Ms Sweeney said the Letterkenny Hospital Campaign is now calling on the hospital management to publish the numbers to show whether the minister’s statement is justified or not.
She added “They must publish full details of extra funding and of what numbers and type of workforce have been approved, how much put in place and how these resources have been used to improve patient services.
“Minister Donnelly’s reference only to outpatient clinics of course evades the issues that staff, GPs and the hospital campaign have highlighted, starting with the situation in A&E, including mental health emergencies.”
