Today is Tick Awareness Day. To mark the day, HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has some practical advice on how to protect yourself against ticks, whose bite can cause Lyme disease. Advising people to be aware over the coming months, Dr Paul McKeown, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE HPSC said: “People are more […]
Health Officials urge the public to consider all care options this Easter
Health Services in the North West are asking the public to be patient this Easter as they prioritise those in need of urgent and emergency care. The Easter break can be a busy time for hospitals and emergency services. This means that patients who attend EDs for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long […]
Hospital had second worst March on record
THE number of people waiting for beds in Letterkenny hospital last month was the second highest March figure since records began. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said nationally the level of overcrowding in some hospitals was “out of control” and could not be allowed to continue into the summer. The INMO launched its ‘Trolley […]
Elective surgeries postponed as LUH ‘extremely busy’
SOME elective surgeries at Letterkenny Univeristy Hospital have been postponed due to high numbers of people attending and lack of bed availability. Monday saw 167 attendances at the Emergency Department with over 150 attending yesterday March 30th. As of 9am this morning there are 34 patients awaiting a bed in ED with high attendances continuing this […]
Lack of GP service blamed on connectivity issues in Churchill
THE failure to restore a GP clinic in Churchill has been blamed on connectivity issues. For the last 19 months, people of the area have not had regular GP visits, which has severely impacted elderly residents. Prior to this, a GP service was available three days a week. Patients are now being treated in the Ark Medical Centre in Letterkenny. But […]
Mass exodus of staff from HSE in Donegal
ALMOST two staff a day under the age of 50 resigned from Donegal HSE last year. The majority of resignations were tendered by Letterkenny University Hospital employees. Freedom of Information figures released to the Donegal News show that 173 staff left the organisation in 2022. A breakdown of the figures reveal 116 LUH employees vacated their jobs. Eighteen staff resigned from Local Health Office […]
Donegal Covid-19 testing centre to close this week
THE Public Health advice for Covid-19 has been updated and from this Thursday, March 30, Covid-19 testing is no longer recommended for the vast majority of people. In line with this new advice, community testing centres across Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo and the self-referral portal for ordering PCR tests are no longer required, […]
Runaway hospital overcrowding becoming ‘new normal’
OVER 3,123 patients have been without a hospital bed this week according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation’s TrolleyWatch figures. 548 patients are without a bed today, including sixteen children. INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha, “There hasn’t been a day in the last two weeks where trolley numbers have dropped below 545. It is […]
Hospital’s emergency department records busiest day
PEOPLE attending Letterkenny University Hospital are being warned that it remains extremely busy today with long wait times at the emergency department. The department saw a record number of attendances yesterday (Monday) with 203 people through the door. A spokesperson for hospital group Saolta said, “The hospital is advising that patients who attend the emergency […]
“Lost cause” is now thrilled to have quit smoking for over six months
A DONEGAL woman who smoked for over 50 years but quit six months ago is encouraging anyone considering quitting to use the support available. With the help of the Donegal HSE Stop Smoking Service, Phil Tysall has quit smoking and can’t quite believe how quitting has helped her regain her confidence and youthful appearance. Phil […]