The Taoiseach is being urged to work with the Minister for Health and the HSE to secure funding to re-open the short stay ward at Letterkenny University Hospital.

Fianna Fail TD Charlie McConalogue made the call to increase the hospital's capacity to 350 beds.

The submission to re-open the ward was made in the summer, however the request has still not been given the go-ahead.

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He said: "I cannot understand how we are still waiting for this funding to be approved when it is obvious to anyone that the hospital is at breaking point. I have raised this issue continually with the Minister for Health, HSE and the Taoiseach and they have acknowledged that this funding would greatly ease the pressure on services and staff.

"Why is the Government and the HSE failing to act? I am urging them to approve this funding as a matter of urgency. Hundreds of patients have already been put through an unnecessary ordeal in trying to access services at LUH – it is unfair to continue to force sick people to wait for days to gain access to their local hospital. This funding must be approved immediately."

(CD/MH)