‘I wouldn’t want this illness to land on anyone’s door’


A mother has expressed her gratitude to staff in Letterkenny University Hospital after spending two weeks receiving treatment for coronavirus. Maureen Vaughan said that words could not describe her gratitude to the wonderful people who cared for her. The 57-year-old Downings woman, who was taken to hospital by ambulance on Monday, December 28, described those […]


Nurse urges public to ‘play your part’ in Covid battle


A NURSE on the front-line of the Covid-19 pandemic at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) is pleading for the public to play their part in curbing the spread of the virus. Treasa Toye, who works in the high dependency unit, admitted she and her colleagues are finding it mentally and physically draining working in these very […]


More difficult weeks ahead for Letterkenny hospital


  IT’S been another unforgiving week in Donegal’s fight against Covid-19. As of 8pm on Tuesday, there were 103 inpatients positive with Covid-19 in Letterkenny University Hospital and three patients in the Intensive Care Unit. Advertisement On Sunday evening, patients had to wait in ambulances outside before being admitted to the hospital.   LUH General […]


Outpatient clinics deferred as 238 new cases in Donegal


Letterkenny University Hospital is deferring all but very urgent and time critical inpatient and day surgery from today January 5th. Outpatient clinics will also be restricted however some of these will take place virtually unless it is absolutely necessary for patients to be seen. These measures are been taken to help the hospital manage the […]


New maternity theatre opens in LUH


A NEW purpose-built maternity theatre has finally opened at Letterkenny General Hospital, sixteen years after the Obstetrics unit was completed in 2004. The first three planned caesarean section births took place on Thursday with another list scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday. Dr Kevin Bailey, Consultant Anaesthetist, said they were ‘very pleased’ that the new maternity theatre […]


LUH plans to re-introduce full schedule of services


  LETTERKENNY University Hospital plans to re-introduce its full schedule of elective services from Monday, January 4. It follows confirmation that the number of inpatients with Covid-19 and staff levels impacted by the outbreaks in recent days have fallen. Advertisement As of Thursday evening (December 10) there were 24 confirmed Covid-19 positive in-patients in LUH […]


Letterkenny hospital forced to cancel operations


A NUMBER of planned surgeries scheduled to take place at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) over the coming weeks have been cancelled due to Covid-related pressures. It follows confirmation that three patients remain in the hospital’s intensive care unit last evening. Mr Sean Murphy, General Manager, said the number of Covid cases rising in the community […]


Retiring consultant casts cold eye on health service


A leading hospital consultant has admitted that the failings of the Health Service left him both frustrated and depressed for much of the past decade. Mr Peter O’Rourke, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital, recently retired after an eventful twenty-three year career in Donegal. Unacceptable waiting lists and cancellations have been cited as […]


Davy is walking the walk for two great local causes


WELL known Letterkenny man Davy Cowan is walking the highways and byways of Donegal this week to raise money for the Oncology and Neo Natal wards at Letterkenny University Hospital. Davy, who recently retired from his job in Optum Ireland, had initially planned to do a sponsored walk between Galway and Letterkenny in March. Due […]


Cases among young people and along border on the rise


THE GP and Clinical Lead of the Covid hub centre in Letterkenny has warned the situation remains fragile and what we do now is going to influence the next wave. While Donegal has the second-highest 14-day incidence rate of confirmed cases per 100,000 population nationally, Dr Paul Armstrong said the situation could change quickly. “The […]