Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. I am not sure he appreciates that the hospital is in crisis. This is not just my view; it is a view I have heard from senior levels within the hospital. The crisis presents itself at different times in different areas with the issue in the accident and emergency department last week an example of that. The hospital is kept going and meeting demand only because of the diligent efforts of its nursing staff, doctors, consultants and non-medical staff. This is where the problem arises. Many people are going beyond the call of duty.

I have statistics for 2012 and we need the updated statistics. However, LGH had 6.8 staff per 1,000 inpatient discharges that year compared with Kerry General Hospital, 7.2; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, 7.4; Mayo General Hospital, 7.8; St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, 7.8; Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, 9.9; and Sligo Regional Hospital, ten. I do not compare the hospital to the Mater Hospital and so on. LGH had 24.7 nursing staff per 1,000 inpatient discharges; Kerry General Hospital, more than 30; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, 31.9; Mayo General Hospital, 25; St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, 29; and so on. The number of agency staff in LGH was 0.7 per 1,000 inpatient discharges; Kerry General Hospital, zero; South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, zero; Mayo General Hospital, zero; St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, 0.6; and so on. LGH, therefore, has the highest number of agency staff and lowest number of medical and nursing staff.

If LGH were compared to Mayo General Hospital, it would need 22 additional medical staff to meet demand while it would need 105 additional nursing staff when compared to St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny. Consultants would not take up a position in the hospital if it was offered today. There is only one consultant who cannot take holidays because the consultant knows patients will not be treated.

The hospital is being run down because it does not have sufficient resources and staff. I do not except the Minister to respond to the statistics I have outlined.

6 o’clock

What I would like is if, as previously requested of the former Minister, Deputy Reilly, Deputy Varadkar as the new Minister for Health would look at the comparative data of Letterkenny General Hospital versus other hospitals with similar case mix and explain why in terms of all of these indicators Letterkenny General Hospital again comes at the bottom of the league in terms of resources.

The Minister referred in his reply to efficiency.

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