Ireland Sport | Councillor calls for health care changes to meet needs of people

Calls for changes to be made to meet the health care needs of the people of Donegal have been made by Councillor Gerry McMonagle. Speaking today, Cllr McMonagle said: "Much more can be done to improve health services in Donegal and the North West. We have a very committed workforce in health care but changes could be made to ensure that the health care needs of the people are better met. "We must try to put an end to the travel for services that should be provided in the North West. "The removal of services from Letterkenny University Hospital on the basis that the hospital does not have the critical mass is wrong. "The North West, comprising Donegal, Derry and Strabane, meets this critical mass requirement and when you consider the services we already provide to people in the North West on a cross border basis it makes sense to develop our future health care services on a cross-border basis. "This exemplifies how future healthcare planning that doesn't take into consideration the cross-border element will not be fit for purpose. "The services that are provided on a cross-border basis are working well together already and it is now time to expand these types of initiatives. We have shown that we are able to do this and that the desire is there for a fully functioning cross-border health service, something that will bring great benefit to the people of Donegal and the North West."