THE funeral takes place today of well-known Letterkenny man Eugene McGettigan. He passed away suddenly at Letterkenny University Hospital on Saturday. A very well known and extremely popular man, news of Eugene’s sudden passing has brought widespread sadness. Advertisement Many have taken to social media to pay their respects to his family and offer their […]
‘A shambles’- Family’s anger at LUH over wristband error
By Dionne Meehan THE family of a 96-year-old woman have dubbed Letterkenny University Hospital a “shambles” after their mother was given the wrong wristband on arrival at the Emergency Department. Inishowen woman, Christina Beattie (96), attended the hospital’s Emergency Department after falling ill at home. Advertisement But her family have spoken of their shock after […]
108 people died in LUH’s emergency department in the last five years
by Louise Doyle THERE will be “catastrophic outcomes” for patients if the State and HSE do not urgently intervene to address overcrowding and capacity issues, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned. The warning comes in the wake of stark data this week, revealing 108 people have died in Letterkenny University Hospital’s (LUH) Emergency Department […]
Family to lodge a complaint over their mum’s end of life care
By Dionne Meehan THE daughter of a Newtowcunningham woman, who died days after she was told no in-home weekend palliative care was available for her after being discharged from hospital, is calling for change. Having previously beat breast cancer, Bernadette Doran (74) was given the devastating news in March that her cancer had returned and was […]
Cancer patient (74) dies at home without promised palliative care
By Dionne Meehan THE daughter of a Newtowcunningham woman, who died days after she was told no in-home weekend palliative care was available for her after being discharged from hospital, is calling for change. Having previously beat breast cancer, Bernadette Doran (74) was given the devastating news in March that her cancer had returned and was […]
Elderly patient with tumours left sitting on chair for eight hours
BY KATE HEANEY AN elderly patient with tumours in their liver and bones was left to sit on a chair in Letterkenny University Hospital for eight hours before being admitted, the latest meeting of Regional Health Forum West has heard. Newly appointed Regional Health Forum West member Cllr Gary Doherty combined three questions at Tuesday’s meeting seeking […]
Neurology Consultants for LUH welcomed
PLANS to appoint two neurological consultants between Letterkenny University Hospital and Sligo University Hospital have been welcomed. The announcement was welcomed by Councillor Gerry McMonagle at the Regional Health Forum, West meeting in Galway on Tuesday. Cllr McMonagle had pointed out in his question tabled to the Forum that “with over 46 per cent of the […]
Surge measures implemented more than 200 times in LUH
by Darragh Bermingham SURGE protocol measures, introduced when hospitals are experiencing high emergency activity, were implemented 242 times at Letterkenny University Hospital during a 15 month period. According to the HSE Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Operational Plan, published in July last year, surge measures respond to and mitigate patient safety risks associated with high UEC activity […]
LUH ambulance turnaround times improve
by Kate Heaney AMBULANCE turnaround times at Letterkenny University Hospital have come down since September, the latest meeting of Regional Health Forum West was this week told. Letterkenny councillor Gerry McMonagle tabled a question to the meeting asking for a breakdown of how many ambulances crews are based in Donegal in any 24- hour period and […]
Letterkenny Town Bus Service public consultation to open
THE National Transport Authority (NTA) will launch a public consultation for a Letterkenny Town Bus Service on Wednesday. The NTA proposes to invest in Letterkenny by securing provision for a network of local urban-style bus services to operate for 17 hours a day Monday to Saturday, with a slightly shorter operating day on Sundays. Under proposal, buses […]