A SENIOR clinician at Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) told an internal meeting he had witnessed ‘subtle bullying” at the hospital. Consultant General Surgeon Mr Kenneth Oaikhinan, Associate Clinical Director of the Perioperative Directorate, made his comments at a meeting of the hospital executive board last July, the Medical Independent (Mindo), Ireland’s only investigative medical news website […]
Gravity of missed outpatient appointments at LUH revealed
by Louise Doyle MORE than 1, 800 patients did not attend their outpatient appointment in Letterkenny University Hospital in the first three months of this year. Last week we revealed how 102 patients failed to show up for their outpatient appointment in LUH in the week beginning April 8. Advertisement But the gravity and scale of […]
Head of Saolta to become new HSE Regional Executive Officer
THE head of health care group Saolta has been appointed the new Regional Executive Officer to lead HSE West and North West. In the new role Tony Canavan will form part of the core HSE Senior Leadership Team, providing regional input into the development of national policies and standards. The HSE is organising service delivery […]
‘Hopes’ of additional budget for LUH in the year ahead
BY JEROME HUGHES THE region’s top health official has expressed ‘hope’ that Letterkenny University Hospital will receive additional funding and staff in 2024. After facing problems in 2023, including overcrowding in the Emergency Department leading to ambulance crews being unable to alight patients, and attracting scathing criticism from GPs and consultants on a range of […]
ED review underway after patient safety concerns
By Dionne Meehan A SIX week review of Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department got underway on Friday following concerns for patient safety. This comes after 78 GPs, subsequently backed by 11 consultants, sent written correspondence to the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly imploring him to take urgent action at the hospital’s emergency department amid ‘service collapse’ […]
Crunch meeting over radiologist scandal
SAOLTA CEO Tony Canavan will be quizzed at a meeting with Regional Health Forum members tomorrow following the termination of a radiologist’s contract at Letterkenny University Hospital after just ten days. Mr Canavan called the meeting with members of the health forum and Oireachtas members after serious concerns were raised about patient safety. The male […]
Major recruitment drive at Letterkenny University Hospital
A MAJOR recruitment drive for over 80 new healthcare staff is underway at Letterkenny University Hospital in an attempt to ensure safe staffing levels across the hospital. Under the national initiative for Implementation Of Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing And Skill Mix, Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) has recently received approval for a total of 78 new […]
Letterkenny University Hospital third most overcrowded hospital in country
THERE is currently 44 patients on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, making it the third most over crowded hospital in the country. Sixteen patients are waiting on beds in the emergency department, while 28 patients are on trolleys in wards elsewhere in the hospital. University Hospital Limerick is the worst affected by overcrowding […]
Public reminded to stay safe this bank holiday weekend
AS the August bank holiday is approaching, health services are reminding the public of the care options available if you become unwell. Health services are reminding people that COVID-19 is circulating in communities while health and emergency services across the North-west are anticipating a busy weekend. Many local pharmacies will be open over the weekend […]
Woman’s 26 hours in hospital’s emergency department
A WOMAN has told of how she found her medical file on top of a bin and endured a 26-hour ordeal at Letterkenny University Hospital’s emergency department. The Letterkenny woman was referred by her doctor to the emergency department for a brain scan on Monday and arrived at the facility at 4pm to “absolute chaos”. […]