Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We now have the totally unacceptable and unbelievable situation where a new €37.6 million community hospital in Ballyshannon, with 52 long-stay beds, 20 short-stay beds, eight dementia-specific assessment beds and a day hospital service, has been ready to open its doors for several weeks now.

However, because of a dispute between the HSE, SIPTU and the INMO on planned staffing levels and clinical governance, which unions say would pose a risk to staff and patients, a state-of-the-art facility that could relieve some of the awful pressure on trolley numbers at SUH and LUH and, crucially, would support the healthcare needs of patients, in particular older patients, remains closed. Donegal is unique in having no dementia assessment service. This hospital would provide that.

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