VISITING restrictions remain in place at Letterkenny University Hospital as the site continues to be ‘severely impacted’ by Covid-19. The hospital is seeing a significant increase in Covid-19 positive admissions and attendances, while also dealing with high volumes of non-Covid patients. There are 84 patients with Covid-19 being treated in the hospital today. Currently, there […]
LUH: Thousands of incidents not properly logged
STAFFING issues at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) led to thousands of incidents not being properly logged for months, the Donegal News has learned. The issue came to light when members of staff alerted the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) which is now monitoring the situation through inspection. The HSE describes an incident as “an […]
Long wait times at the Emergency Department
The Emergency Department at Letterkenny University Hospital has been extremely busy over the past week with on average 120 patients presenting for treatment every day. Yesterday 139 people attended the Emergency Department. The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability and […]
McMonagle elected chair of HSE regional health forum
COUNCILLOR Gerry McMonagle has been elected, uncontested, as the new chairperson of the HSE Western Regional Health Forum. After two years of online/virtual group meetings, the Regional Health Forum held its first in-person meeting in Galway on Tuesday, where a new board of officers was elected for the upcoming term. The Sinn Féin councillor takes […]
Winter pressures having major impact on hospital
LETTERKENNY University Hospital is treating more people than ever before as extreme winter pressures are having a major impact on the health service. A range of factors including the impact of winter and the high numbers in hospital and attending ED are leading to a very high demand on both hospital and community services. Referring to the […]
Long waits at busy Letterkenny emergency department
Letterkenny University Hospital is advising that the Emergency Department is very busy and management have apologised for the long waiting times. There is ongoing pressure on bed availability in the hospital and as a result patients are facing long delays being admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward. There are currently […]
‘The younger lads in their forties fly about the place’
A LETTERKENNY football legend continues to show the youngsters how it is done on the playing field. Brian Ferry, who celebrates his sixtieth birthday this weekend, played for Letterkenny Rovers for more than a decade before giving younger players a chance. Ferry – dubbed ‘Letterkenny’s Glenn Hoddle’ – was part of the Rovers team that […]
HSE asks people waiting on Covid tests to be patient
THE HSE is asking people to be patient as they work through the large volume of referrals for PCR tests. The Omicron variant is generating unprecedented demand for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing both in Ireland and across Europe. As a result, the HSE has vastly increased its testing capacity to respond to the spread of disease […]
Hospital visitors will be asked to show covid jab proof
VISITORS at Letterkenny University Hospital will have to show proof of their Covid-19 vaccine as new rules are introduced in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. Following new national guidance on visiting, visitors to all hospitals will be asked to produce their EU Digital COVID Certificate or HSE COVID-19 Vaccination Record or […]
Over half promised hospital beds yet to be delivered
MORE than half of the hospital beds promised in the Health Service Executive’s service plan for Letterkenny University Hospital this year have yet to be delivered. Of the 39 acute beds that were promised in the HSE’s winter plan, 16 are open and it will be February, at the earliest, before the remaining 23 beds […]