Local women facing 370-mile trip to give birth
HSE considers closure of Letterkenny maternity unit, which, it says is ‘not cost effective’
The HSE has not ruled out closing the maternity unit at Letterkenny General Hospital as part of a cost-cutting programme that would see Inishowen women forced to travel to Galway to give birth.
It’s one of the options contained in a confidential report that was raised in the Seanad on Tuesday.
Every year more than 2,000 babies are born at Letterkenny Hosiptal, however this is not deemed enough “to maintain a cost-effective and sustainable” service according the report, compiled by consultants recruited by the HSE. They have advised that 2,500 births annually is the most finically viable option.
In a statement released to the Inishowen Independent yesterday, Bill Maher, Chief Executive for West/Northwest Hospitals Group, said “no reconfiguration” had been approved as of yet and speculation at this stage was “unhelpful and upsetting for patients and staff”.
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