Donegal-based surgeon hits out at locums for strike action
A Letterkenny-based surgeon says freelance or locum doctors are blackmailing hospitals by holding a wildcat strike. The Health Minister has called on the dispute to be resolved through proper channels. Some locum doctors have decided not to show up for work after the HSE reduced the hourly rate they are…
Surgeon in Letterkenny says cancelling surgeries is becoming ‘the norm’
The cancellation of elective surgeries is becoming ‘the norm’ in Letterkenny Hospital, according to a consultant there. Orthopaedic Surgeon Peter O’Rourke says his list has been cancelled again today as the hospital tries to deal with 46 patients waiting on trolleys. Speaking to Ocean FM News this evening, he says…
Consultant says more beds and not more consultants is the answer to ED crisis
A surgeon in Donegal says an increase in consultants will make no difference to the ongoing trolley crisis in hospitals. Letterkenny University Hospital based consultant Peter O’Rourke says that the size of emergency departments and number of available consultants has never been the problem, it’s always been a lack of…
Full Capacity Protocol at LUH has lead to cancellation of one third of surgeries
A consultant surgeon at Letterkenny University Hospital has said the continued trolley crisis is leading to more and more surgeries being cancelled at the hospital. Peter O’Rourke says every time the full capacity protocol is implemented at the hospital all non-life threatening surgeries are immediately cancelled. In 2016 alone the…