Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is a programme for Government commitment to addressing overcrowding in accident and emergency departments, particularly with regard to spending under the critical unmet need and winter initiative by the Health Service Executive. I raised with the Taoiseach a month ago that Letterkenny University Hospital applied for funding in the summer for 20 additional beds and the staff required for them. I raised this with the Minister for Health and a junior Minister for Health. A month later, there have been 500 cases of people on trolleys since I first raised the matter.

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Will the Taoiseach agree to take control of the situation and ensure the 20 beds are opened immediately? Yesterday 30 patients were waiting on trolleys at Letterkenny University Hospital. The Government must get a grip on the situation without delay.

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