Calls grow for inquiry into Letterkenny General Hospital flooding
There are growing calls for an independent inquiry into Letterkenny General Hospital after it was hit by flooding for the second time in the space of a year.
Its emergency department was forced to close for three hours last night after torrential rain cascaded down steep banks into the car park.
The hospital group responsible for the Co Donegal facility says it is willing to co-operate in any investigation to work out how to prevent it happening again.
Up to 40 millimetres of rain fell in just 15 minutes over Donegal last night, causing the flood which closed the hospital’s emergency department.
It remained shut for three hours as crews pumped flood water away from the building - with patients told to divert to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry or Sligo General Hospital.
Clean up is done & dusted at Letterkenny's Emergency Dept. Just hours ago floodwater was cascading down those banks. pic.twitter.com/22MV2W5qB2
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) August 6, 2014
It is the second time the department has been hit by floods in the space of a year, with an estimated €40m in damage caused last July.
What remains of last night's flood at Letterkenny General Hospital. Mgmt is in the "early stages" of investigation. pic.twitter.com/MzPgViFiEq
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) August 6, 2014
The West-North West Hospital Group responsible for the facility has launched its own investigation, but calls are already mounting for an independent inquiry.
The hospital group’s Chief Operating Officer Tony Canavan has said he would be happy to co-operate, and local FG Councillor, Jimmy Kavanagh - who is also a staff member at Letterkenny General - says he is confident the Health Minister Leo Varadkar will get involved in the process.
