by Louise Doyle
CONCERNS have emerged of significant delays in processing blood tests at Letterkenny University Hospital.
It comes after Donegal GPs have been informed of backlogs.
Sinn Féin election candidate for the Donegal LEA, Linda Boyle, said she has been made aware that the lab in LUH that processes blood tests has informed GPs of significant delays in processing blood tests from this week.
The Kilcar native said: “This means that patients will have to make an appointment back with their GP to get blood tests redone and resent.”
Responding to a query from the Donegal News on the issue, a Saolta spokesperson confirmed the hospital is “currently reviewing a number of options to address this workload pressure”.
“The hospital is currently reviewing a number of options to address this workload pressure including an extension to increase the physical size of the Department, similar to the recent extension of the Microbiology Department. While the hospital seeks the necessary approvals and funding for this capital project, an interim solution has been put in place. LUH is now outsourcing samples to meet the excess demand in the short term. We will continue to work to find the most appropriate solution for the hospital and local GPs going forward.”
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