By Chris Ashmore

THE Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is expected to come under increased pressure this week in relation to whether Letterkenny or Sligo is given the nod for an important new surgical hub.

Given the fact that Donegal’s population far exceeds that of the SligoLeitrimWest CavanRoscommon catchment area, there has already been considerable local reaction since the news emerged that Sligo appears to be the front-runner as a location.

Letterkenny Fine Gael Cllr. Jimmy Kavanagh has now written to the Minister highlighting the depth of feeling about the issue.

He believes that if the planned new surgical hub for the north-west is built in Sligo rather than in Letterkenny, it “ will lead to a significant downgrading of surgical services in Donegal.”

In a strongly worded letter to the Fine Gael Minister, Cllr. Kavanagh pointed out that he has received “a substantial number of calls, texts, and emails” regarding the proposed location of the north-west surgical hub, all expressing “serious alarm” at the prospect of Letterkenny losing out to Sligo.

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In a copy of the letter, seen by the Donegal News, he stated that he has been contacted by GPs, consultants, nursing and paramedical staff as well as patient representative groups, and members of the public.

He wrote: “An objective assessment is required to ensure that the best option is delivered for the population of the North-West.”

And he added: “This needs to be undertaken and overseen by National HSE and the Dept of Health and not just HSE based in Galway.”

Last week, 171 consultants and GPs in Donegal voiced their concern that the hub will be based in Sligo, despite Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) serving a larger and more sprawling catchment area. It is understood that the proposal was brought to the May meeting of the HSE Board and that Sligo University Hospital was the only option presented for the hub’s location.

A final decision has yet to be made by the HSE and the Health Minister’s office has confirmed that it has not yet received a business plan from the HSE.

Back In January, the HSE announced plans to open six surgical hubs to increase the capacity for day case surgery and minor procedures.

Each hub plans to deliver 10,000 day case surgeries and minor procedures, and 18,500 outpatient consultations annually.

Each hub will have two operating theatres, two minor procedure rooms, and areas where patients can recover after a procedure. They will provide a range of day case specialties, including: general surgery, dermatology, gynaecology, ophthalmology; ENT, orthopaedics, pain relief, plastic surgery, urology, and vascular surgery.

Patients will have their procedure, recover and go home the same day.

The Dublin South hub has opened while construction work has started on the Limerick hub. Further hubs in Dublin North, Galway and Cork are planned to be operational in two years.

Meanwhile, Donegal Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn has described the letter from the 171 clinicians about the issue as being “unprecedented” and said it reflects the strong feelings on the matter and real concerns that Donegal is being left behind yet again.

Last month, responding to him in the Dáil, the Minister said the Government was committed to exploring the provision of an additional surgical hub for the north-west “in a timely manner”.

She acknowledged that no matter where the hub is located, “surgical capacity and activity needs to be increased in the north-west region.”