Minister James Reilly officially opens the new Emergency Department and Medical Block today. (Tullygay Pictures)
HEALTH Minister James Reilly promised today that he will change the status of Letterkenny Hospital from a general facility to a Regional Hospital.
Mr Reilly was in the hospital today to officially open €24M facilities.
Asked if he was not prepared to give the hospital regional status, the Minister promised the change “during my tenure as Minister.”
He wouldn’t say exactly when he would introduce the measure which would see funding to the hospital increase significantly, allowing management to increase charges for private patents.
The Minister also met Betty Holmes from Donegal Action for Cancer Care who handed him a letter complaining that he had refused to have a meeting with her organisation.
“Are you going to give the new hospital the staff it needs?” Ms Holmes asked the Minister as unveiled a plaque.
She told Donegal Daily the Minister later promised a longer meeting with her.
“The impact on vital health services as a direct result of budget shortfalls and the recruitment embargo at Letterkenny hospital must be discussed,” said Ms Holmes.
The Minister later said the new facilities was a “hugely positive step forward.”
He said the Government investment in cancer services at Altnagelvin Hospital was one of the many cross-Border developments in health care which would deliver better services for the people of Donegal.
This would include cross-Border air ambulance services, working more closely with Enniskillen Hospital and developing services in Lifford that could serve the people of Strabane.