THE A&E department at
Letterkenny General Hospital is open today after
being forced to close for several hours last night
due to flash flooding.
An investigation is underway after parts of the
roadway and car park at the new building were
affected following torrential rain.
The flood waters started to rise about 7pm and
within minutes the roadway and car park surrounding
the Emergency Department were submerged. It is
understood that while the water did not reach
clinical areas the unit was closed for infection
control purposes. Patients were moved within the
hospital while new arrivals were diverted to Sligo.
The incident came just over a year after severe
flooding caused damage to 40 per cent of the
hospital's new multi-million extension last July.
Amid public anger, hospital management said while
interim flood management measures "worked well" and
a culvert was kept clear, it wanted answers.
Management also said the hospital's flood management
strategy would be reviewed.
A number of local politicians attended the scene of
last night's flooding.
Sinn Féin T.D., Pádraig MacLochlainn praised the
staff and the emergency services' response. However,
he said a public inquiry was now needed. |
