THE HSE is insisting that the closure of 10 beds at Dungloe Hospital is due to staff shortages – and is ‘temporary’.
In a statement reacting to Donegal Daily’s story on the issue yesterday, the HSE said staff sickness, maternity leave and staff retirements led to the move in the interests of patient care.
It’s understood a number of meetings are planned in a bid to get around the recruitment ban which is at the heart of the issue.
After confirmation from HSE that 10 beds are due to close in Dungloe Hospital, Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher – who broke the news on Donegal Daily on Tuesday – told us: ”The cuts are worse than was muted over the past number of days, 10 beds closing is a huge blow to the area.
“This is clearly due to Government policy not to recruit staff, the HSE have not clarified how long they expect these measures to be in place, but if the recruitment embargo is not over come, this measure could turn into long term. The people in the West-Donegal will not accept these cuts to our local services.”