Letterkenny University Hospital remains without a consultant neurologist as hundreds of patients await testing and treatment.
A Consultant Neurologist and Clinical Nurse Specialist were announced for the hospital in October 2024. The positions are still pending formal approval.
There are currently 778 patients waiting for neurology services in Donegal:
Three consultant outpatient clinics are held in Letterkenny each week by the Sligo University Hospital Neurology Service.
“That is a shocking number of people,” Cllr Gerry McMonagle told the Regional Health Forum West yesterday.
Cllr McMonagle said the vacancies are “going on far too long”.
“That there are 294 patients in Donegal waiting over 12 months and 162 waiting 0-3 months, the figures and the waiting speak for themselves. We need to do better,” he said.
In the meantime, a locum consultant has been offered the role and is awaiting registration with the Irish Medical Council.
Seán Murphy, Manager of LUH, said he hopes to have the locum consultant post, who is coming from the UK, in their position in June.
He added that the hospital is preparing to recruit for the Clinical Nurse Specialist and is looking for a locum in the interim.
