Pringle again calls on Government to recruit Cuban doctors to ease staffing pressures
- Updated: 24th May 2023
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said staffing levels at Letterkenny University Hospital must be addressed immediately, as he again called on the Government to recruit Cuban doctors to ease pressure on health services.
Addressing the Dáil on Wednesday, Deputy Pringle said: “The current situation in hospitals across the country is absolutely dire as you know, Minister. The fact that 2022 was the worst year for overcrowding in Irish hospitals on record is sadly not surprising. I have been contacted by many constituents in recent times regarding overcrowding and long waiting lists and some of the situations and wait times patients have been forced to endure are absolutely appalling.”
He said: “The situation will only continue to get worse if drastic measures are not taken as soon as possible. I have been continuously raising concerns regarding Letterkenny University Hospital and the seemingly continuous scaling back of services here. The staff at the hospital are expected to work under severe pressure constantly and it’s just not sustainable or acceptable.”
The deputy said that following an inspection in the hospital in November, Hiqa raised concerns regarding overcrowding in the emergency department and the need for improvements to address clinical governance. He said they have said immediate action is required to address medical staffing levels at the hospital.
Deputy Pringle said: “It is clear that understaffing is a significant issue in Letterkenny with one nurse claiming: ‘it’s unsafe and inhumane’. As she rightfully states, nurses don’t go into nursing to work in crisis management, nor should they be expected to.”
The deputy was speaking in support of an independent motion Re Targeted Investment in the Health Service and thanked Deputy Michael McNamara for bringing it forward.
Deputy Pringle said the focus must be on retention as well as recruitment, “as many nurses in Donegal have chosen to leave the county, and oftentimes the country, in search of better and less stressful work, over the last year particularly”.
The deputy also recognised the 88 overseas nurses and midwives who have helped fill this gap by taking up roles in Letterkenny University Hospital since the beginning of last year. He said: “I speak on behalf of all the people of Donegal when I say their presence is welcome and very much appreciated. There is no doubt that the hospital wouldn’t be able to function without them.”
The deputy again urged the Government and the HSE to collaborate with Cuba in sending doctors to Ireland to relieve pressure on Ireland’s health service.
Deputy Pringle said: “The country currently serves in 59 different nations, but apparently Ireland is very different.
“The HSE relies heavily on overseas doctors, nurses and midwives to staff hospitals and collaboration with Cuba would be a great opportunity for Ireland to address the severe crisis we are currently experiencing in our health service. The government should be jumping at this opportunity, yet the Minister has failed to engage with me or the Cuban Ambassador on this issue, despite numerous attempts and despite it being raised here in the House and raised directly with him as well.”
He said Fermanagh District Council, the Western Trust in the North and Enniskillen Hospital have recently started engagement with the Cuban authorities and the Cuban embassy about getting Cuban doctors to help staff the Enniskillen general hospital.
Deputy Pringle said that they can do it there, “but we can’t do it here. We can’t even get the Minister to acknowledge that it’s been raised with him. That’s a sad reflection.”
He said: “This is incredibly disappointing and I would urge the Minister to act in the best interest of patients at this stage and actually engage.”
Deputy Pringle said: “We need targeted investment in the health service and I urge the government to accept this motion today as the first step in recognising and addressing this issue.”
