Pringle welcomes opening of short-stay beds in Falcarragh, citing role of community hospitals in improving access to health services
- Updated: 9th November 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has welcomed the reopening of 13 short-stay care beds at Falcarragh Community Hospital, calling investment in community hospitals long overdue and important for improving public access to health services.
Deputy Pringle said: “I believe we must invest strongly in community healthcare and have spoken in the Dáil about the importance of community hospitals in our network of healthcare services. We need a fully functioning public healthcare system that anyone can access when needed, no matter where they live.
“Too often today our community healthcare is underfunded, understaffed and underutilised.
“Hospitals like Falcarragh Community Hospital, Killybegs Community Hospital and community hospitals across Donegal and the country can play a bigger role in providing much-needed healthcare in our rural communities when properly resourced and staffed.
“These short-stay beds will provide step-down care to older people after admission to Letterkenny University Hospital and care for people who need convalescence, rehabilitation or respite care in the local community.
“If properly supported, our community hospitals could significantly take the pressure off our regional and national hospitals by offering beds to people who are at LUH, while providing important healthcare right in the community.
“The Falcarragh beds come as the result of a phased, major capital refurbishment programme. We need to upgrade and maintain all our community hospitals.
“More than that, we need free, community-based health services and diagnostic care. We should restore ante-natal and maternity services to community hospitals to reduce travel times for patients and reduce demand for LUH services.
“With proper support, our community hospitals in Donegal and across the country can play much more of a role in healthcare delivery, particularly in our rural communities. We need a government that recognises their value and supports and staffs them accordingly,” he said.
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