Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Minister for Health if he will urgently review the categorisation of Letterkenny University Hospital in order that it reflects the number of inpatients at the hospital each year; and if he will increase the level of investment in the sixth-largest hospital in the State. [25411/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) is a Model 3 Hospital, operating as part of the Saolta University Health Care Group. LUH is an Acute General and Maternity Hospital, providing a wide range of local and regional services on an in-patient, day case and out-patient basis. The budget allocation for LUH in 2022 is €161 million, an increase on 2020 and 2021 allocations. As at December 2021, 1,943 Whole Time Equivalents were employed by LUH.

There has been significant investment in services in LUH in recent years. Capital projects completed last year include:

- the expansion of gynaecology services

- the opening of the acute stroke unit

- the provision of an additional endoscopy theatre and a new maternity theatre

- and the provision of additional patient beds.

In the HSE Capital Plan 2022, €3.6 million has been allocated for LUH. Projects planned and underway include the expansion of the Renal Dialysis Unit, the expansion of the Haematology/Oncology Day Unit and the Electrical Infrastructure Upgrade.

The extent of recent and upcoming developments illustrates Government's commitment to LUH and to patients in the North West.