THERE has been major developments in breast care services at Letterkenny University Hospital, Tuesday’s Regional Health Forum meeting heard.
This includes the successful recruitment of two Consultant Breast Surgeons, along with the appointment of a Consultant Breast Radiologist.
Cllr Declan Meehan who tabled the question described the developments as “a significant step forward in strengthening local services and improving patient care here in Donegal.”
While acknowledging the progress, Cllr Meehan said that challenges remain, particularly in relation to waiting times.
There are currently 540 routine referrals on the waiting list, with 257 patients waiting longer than the recommended Key Performance Indicator (KPI) timeframe of 84 days.
“The KPI clearly states that patients should be seen within 84 days, and it is concerning that a significant number are waiting longer than this,” he said.
“However, it is important to recognise that this backlog has arisen due to a capacity deficit, with only one Breast Surgeon previously working on a half-time basis.”
Cllr Meehan welcomed confirmation from the HSE that additional clinics will be run to address the backlog. Initiative clinics were already held on February 28 and March 7, with further capacity now being added. With the recent appointment of a Consultant Breast Surgeon on March 2, four clinics per week are now scheduled going forward.
He added that all urgent referrals have been allocated appointment dates, which he described as “critically important for patient safety and reassurance.”
He said the focus now must be on reducing waiting times and ensuring that all patients can access timely, high-quality care.
“I will continue to monitor the situation closely and work to ensure that these improvements are fully delivered.”
Cllr Meehan also paid tribute to the recently retired Mr Michael Sugure, who he described as an incredible asset to LUH.