Lack of full time Neurology Consultant at LUH raised at HSE Forum

A Donegal county councillor who is a member of the HSE Regional Health Forum West has demanded to know why there is still no full-time neurological surgeon based out of Letterkenny University Hospital.

With over 46% of the 675 Multiple Sclerosis patients based in the Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) catchment area, had any application being made to provide a full time Neurology Consultant to provide daily neurology cover at Letterkenny, Cllr Gerry McMonagle (SF) asked a meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum in Galway.

He said that the question came about as a result of a recent presentation, given by Neurological Alliance of Ireland about the state of the neurology services provided in the north west and particularly Letterkenny.

He said there are approximately 1,000 patients on the waiting list for such appointments in both Sligo University Hospital and Letterkenny University Hospital.

ABOVE: Letterkenny University Hospital

In Letterkenny “we have one full day of consults per week, one full day of clinics per week with the Registrar and a Consultant and one half day clinic per week with consultant".

He explained that with the number of patients involved, some had to wait up to a week for a review, with an hour to see the patients, as well as requiring a 242km round trip between Sligo and Letterkenny for appointments.

“We have approximately 475 MS patients, of whom 46% are from the LUH catchment area and all diagnostic outpatients, lumbar punctures, they are all done at SUH (Sligo University Hospital). 

“MS patients within the LUH catchment area have to go SUH for infusions and 41% of epilepsy calls and advice calls are from the LUH area.   

“We have no neuro-psychology service for the entire north west, we have a completely inadequate for LUH for the amount of patients there is.

“And the alliance are saying and these are doctors that Letterkenny University Hospital should have a daily neurology cover and there is a significant medio-legal risk associated with this reduced cover and there is enough work they are arguing for two full time neurologists, as well as the existing neurologist in the north west and the supporting team along with them,” he said.

With the freeze on HSE recruitment, he said that an application should be made immediately.    

ABOVE: Cllr Gerry McMonagle

In a response to his comments Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO, Saolta University Health Care Group stated that they had completed their own review of services at LUH and were in agreement with the Neurological Alliance.

“We’ve completed our own review of neurological services across the entire region from Donegal to Galway, in the context of the population needs and we agree that neurology services need to be developed at Letterkenny Hospital and we will be seeking funding.”

She added that getting the funding would be the challenge in “getting key appointments” and that would include two dedicated Consultants to Letterkenny Hospital.

“The group are currently finalising the priorities for the Service Plan 2025 and the development of the neurology service in LUH forms part of the estimates submission for 2025,” she said.