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”. […]


Twenty patients on trolleys at LUH


THERE are currently 20 patients waiting on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital.  Twelve patients are in the emergency department while eight are on wards elsewhere in the hospital. Nationally, 335 admitted patients are waiting for beds this morning, according to today’s INMO Trolley Watch. 249 patients are waiting in the emergency department, while 86 are […]


Over 1,000 appointments cancelled at LUH in 2023


NEW figures have revealed that 1,000 appointments were cancelled at Letterkenny University Hospital in the first four months of this year. The figures also showed that in March patients at LUH waited an average of 11 hours to be admitted to the hospital from the emergency department, with patients over the age of 75 waiting […]