COVID-19 has delayed an independent external team from the NHS coming over to Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) to review its management and governance.

Talks are continuing between Health Care Group Saolta and the NHS to bring over a team to address issues at the hospital following the publication of a HIQA review which identified weaknesses in oversight arrangements and governance structures in the hospital.

Speaking to the Donegal News Saolta CEO, Mr Tony Canavan confirmed that the worsening situation with the virus has delayed plans but that they are continuing to work with the NHS on the project.

“Covid is influencing everything. We have parked it until the other side of the New Year,” said Mr Canavan.

Support from outside the jurisdiction was sought on the back of HIQA’s review into the hospital’s gynaecology service which was initiated following incidents of delayed cancer diagnosis at the hospital.

Mr Canavan previously said that they want the NHS team to not only look at governance issues in Letterkenny but also across the Saolta group.

He said a small team will come over to the hospital for a short time and that it would be a “sleeved rolled up approach”.

He said the aim is to drive on further improvements at the hospital and build on the progress that has been made over the last two years.

Mr Canavan said a date for the team’s arrival has not yet been set but that they hoped to make progress in January.