A Donegal County Councillor has spoke of the stresses on Letterkenny University Hospital which he said are causing a knock on crisis across the county concerning ambulances.
Cllr Noel Jordan said the hospital has become a carpark for ambulances that are not able to admit patients because of overcrowding.
“This is a serious issue for LUH and the ambulance service across the county – people are being taken to hospital but find themselves waiting for hours in the ambulance in the carpark. This then ties up ambulances and crews and makes them unable to answer calls.”
The Sinn Féin Councillor’s comments come as he raised the urgent need for additional ambulances and crews to be provided for south Donegal.
He claimed that his calls have been listened to given the likely announcement of a new ambulance crew and staff for the region later this week but hastened to add that it is far from what is required to properly service the area.
“Government need to immediately provide additional ambulance services in south Donegal,” he said.
“I am raising this after our party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, raised the issue of Stephen Lavelle in the Dáil last week. Stephen was from north Mayo and passed away with no ambulance being able to attend to him despite repeated frantic calls from family,” said Cllr Jordan.
“It is only a matter of time before the lack of ambulances and crews in south Donegal causes a similar incident and loss of life. This is something campaigners in our county, with the help of Sinn Féin, have been raising now for a long time.
“It is our view that our calls are being listened to as we do expect an announcement regarding this matter in the coming days. However, getting an additional ambulance and crew is only one small part of what is required given the current crisis in the county at the moment.”
Cllr Jordan welcomed any additional ambulances and crews for south Donegal, while he also stressed it has to be considered the least that is required given the crisis that has emerged with ambulances in the county.
“Ambulance delays cost lives and it has long been understood that additional ambulance services are required for south Donegal.
“Rest assured, we will not stop until south Donegal gets the services it requires,” he added.
