Letterkenny University Hospital is at risk of being downgraded from a Model 3 hospital if a surgical hub is not provided, the government has been warned.
The contentious debate surrounding the location of a surgical hub, with Sligo being considered over Donegal, was brought to the forefront in the Dáil this morning. Sinn Féin TDs Pearse Doherty and Padraig MacLochlainn demanded clarification regarding a potential political agreement favoring Sligo.
Their call for clarity stems from Minister of State Marian Harkin’s confirmation that the decision to locate the surgical hub in Sligo was part of her negotiations during the Programme for Government talks to secure support from Deputy Lowry’s independents.
However, the Department of Health maintains that no final decision has been made regarding the allocation.
Despite this, the HSE has only presented a business case for a surgical hub in Sligo.
Concurrently, 171 doctors and consultants across Donegal have expressed concerns that any political maneuvering would come at the expense of 160,000 patients in Donegal.
Deputy Pearse Doherty asserted that Letterkenny is undoubtedly a suitable location for one of the surgical hubs.
“We’ve heard from an unprecedented number of doctors, surgeons, consultants in the hospital, who have told us that, without the surgical hub in Letterkenny, we are at serious risk of losing accident and emergency services and maternity services within a short period of time,” Deputy Doherty stated in the Dáil.
“That is why all of the politicians in Donegal have come together and made it very clear that we need to see a surgical hub delivered in Letterkenny.”
Deputy Doherty urged the government to clarify if a “secret deal” occurred with Marian Harkin concerning the surgical hub’s location in Sligo, a revelation made by Minister Harkin last week.
Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn emphasized: “All we’re asking for in Donegal is fair play. We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking that our citizens don’t have to travel long distances for care that should be provided in their own community. We’re asking that our emergency services are not allowed to collapse.”
Deputy Mac Lochlainn noted that LUH currently has only three permanent surgeons, down from six in recent years. Medical professionals have warned that if the hospital cannot attract the necessary surgeons, it will significantly impact emergency services.
“Can you imagine we’d lose an emergency department in Letterkenny University Hospital? That’s how serious our surgical services have gotten to,” said Deputy Mac Lochlainn.
“If you decide the surgical hub for the North West is in one place, Sligo, it’s just the death knell,” he said.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn stressed that the situation is not a “game of divide and conquer” between Donegal and Sligo, suggesting that both hospitals should be granted hubs.
Deputy Doherty called on the government to publicly address whether Marian Harkin secured a deal for Sligo.
“Outside of a deal or not, this decision has to be made on the merits, on the facts,” said Pearse Doherty.
Speaking on behalf of the government, Minister of State Michael Moynihan stated: “No decision has been made yet on the location of the north west surgical hub and the Minister is taking time to consider and understand the situation in Donegal.”
Minister Moynihan affirmed the government’s commitment to the ongoing development of Letterkenny University Hospital and its allocation of significant resources to meet patient needs.
“I hope the deputies can see that we are committed to the people of Donegal and look forward to continuing engagement on these issues,” the Minister added.
The previous night, doctors and consultants representing Donegal held another meeting with the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, which they described as “productive”.
“We had an open, honest, and respectful discussion about the urgent need for immediate surgical infrastructural support for Letterkenny University Hospital. We emphasised how critical this is for maintaining surgical services locally and preserving Letterkenny’s status as a Model 3 hospital,” a spokesperson stated.
The delegation of doctors reported that, when asked about suggestions that the surgical hub for the northwest was already designated for Sligo based on the Programme for Government, the Minister “expressed surprise” and stated she was unaware of Marian Harkin’s conclusion.
“The Minister has clearly stated her commitment to making a data-driven decision regarding the selection of a surgical hub in the northwest. She reiterated that no final decision has been made and assured us this process will not be influenced by coalition politics or pre-determined outcomes.”
Letterkenny Hospital risks losing Emergency Department and maternity services, Dáil told was last modified: July 2nd, 2025 by
