Pádraig Mac Lochlainn highlights collapse in numbers of beds in Donegal’s community hospitals

Sinn Féin General Election candidate Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has today revealed that the number of beds in Donegal’s Community Hospitals had collapsed by one third since 2004.

Speaking today, Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “With data released to me by the HSE, I can reveal that the number of beds in Donegal’s Community Hospitals has collapsed from 442 in 2004 to just 304 today. That is a drop of almost one third and it is a truly shocking indictment of government failure. This is further evidence of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael dismantling our services in Donegal.

“Of course, the fewer beds in our Community Hospitals, the more pressure on Letterkenny University Hospital and it is no wonder that out major county hospital is always under so much pressure and why so many people must wait so long in the emergency department when patients have so few available beds in their local community hospitals to step down to.

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"There are government politicians lining up for photo opportunities and to take credit for new community hospitals in Donegal that are being built or that are soon to start construction. They need to be honest with the people of Donegal. Their parties have overseen the dismantling of our Community Hospitals across Donegal and we are now only playing catch up, with serious consequences every day for older people, persons with disabilities and their families”.

“It is completely unacceptable that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have let it get to this level. Rather than dismantle local services as is happening under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, a Sinn Féin government would protect our community hospitals and ensure vital services stay in our communities.”