HIQA says a number of issues identified during an inspection at Letterkenny University Hospital in July are currently being addressed.
The Health Information and Quality Authority has published its report of an unannounced inspection against the National Standards for Safer and Better Healthcare which was carried out in July.
Overall, the hospital was deemed to be substantially compliant with one of the four national standards assessed, and partially compliant with the three remaining national standards. They say this represents a decrease in compliance in these standards from the 2023 inspection when there was substantial compliance with two of the standards.
Four clinical areas were assessed ; the Emergency department, Medical 6, Medical 8 and Surgical 2.
Inspectors spoke with patients in the emergency department, with some pointing to long waiting times and a lack of facilities. They also reported seeing staff actively engaging with patients in a respectful and friendly manner.
Staff on the wards were observed assisting patients with mobility, hygiene, and meals, and promoting patient dignity, although patients who spoke with inspectors in the ward areas were not always aware of the formal complaints process in use at the hospital.
The report, which can be accessed at highlandradio.com contains responses outlines how the issues identified are being are being rectified.
You can access the full report HERE
HSE Response –
Media Release
Letterkenny University Hospital welcomes publication of HIQA report
02 April, 2026
Letterkenny University Hospital (LUH) welcomes the publication by Health Information Quality Authority (HIQA) of its report into its inspection against the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. An unannounced inspection was carried out at the hospital on 01 and 02 July, 2025.
The four clinical areas assessed were the Emergency Department (ED) including the acute medical assessment unit (AMAU), Medical 6 (general medical ward, including three beds designated for urology patients), Medical 8 (high-acuity respiratory ward) and Surgical 2.
The focus of the inspection was to monitor compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare. During the inspection, no instances of non-compliance were found.
As part of the assessment, HIQA focused on key standards relating to Capacity and Capability and Quality and Safety.
The inspection focused in particular, on four key areas; infection prevention and control, medication safety, the deteriorating patient (including sepsis) and transitions of care.
The hospital was found to be compliant in one area, substantially compliant in four areas and partially compliant in six areas of the standards.
Sean Murphy, Hospital Manager at LUH said: “We welcome this report and recognise the important and valuable role of HIQA in assessing and promoting safety and quality in the healthcare services. Action has been taken to address issues identified by HIQA.
“I want to thank our staff for their on-going commitment and dedication in providing the highest quality of care to patients. Together we will continue to drive quality improvement across all of our hospital services.”
The inspectors reported that there was clear evidence that the hospital management and staff were aware of the need to respect and promote the dignity, privacy and autonomy of people receiving care of the hospital promoting a culture of kindness, consideration and respect. Staff were observed speaking to patients in a calm and courteous manner, assisting with mobility, hygiene and meals, and responding promptly to requests for help. In the ED patients described staff as kind and apologetic, and inspectors observed staff maintaining a calm and reassuring presence despite the pressures of a busy department and long waiting times.
Significant work has been carried out on all areas where the hospital was found to be partially compliant.
The hospital had systems to manage complaints and feedback, including tracking and quality improvement processes. However, patient awareness of how to make complaints was inconsistent. Since November 2023, improvements included filling the Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) role and increased compliance with complaint resolution timelines, though the HSE target has not yet been met.
The LUH escalation policy, dated November 2024, remained in draft during inspection, pending review and approval. Hospital management confirmed it was undergoing consultation with clinical leads and was a priority for finalisation. The policy was subsequently reviewed at an Unscheduled Care meeting in November 2025, with significant progress made.
On the day of inspection, delayed discharges continued to affect patient flow and bed availability, with 33 patients awaiting discharge. These delays were linked to complex care needs and limited community resources, including beds and carers. Efforts are underway to increase capacity through staff recruitment in community facilities and expanded home care services. Additional initiatives, such as the Virtual Care Ward under the Enhanced Community Care Programme, aim to support patients at home and reduce hospital readmissions. In addition, plans to expand healthcare capacity include a new community hospital in Letterkenny, due by late 2026, which will provide 110 beds across long-term, transitional, and dementia care. Further expansion at LUH is planned with 72 additional inpatient beds expected over the next five years.
A new infrastructure strategy designed to support modern, accessible and sustainable healthcare for the population of Donegal is being developed. A health planning study for LUH is nearing completion and this will inform the Development Control Plan (DCP) for the campus which will be commencing in the coming weeks. The plan will address capacity challenges related to inpatient beds and urgent and emergency care through a number of major infrastructure projects and will result in significant improvements in patient experiences and better health outcomes into the future.
Letterkenny University Hospital will continue to work with HIQA to ensure that all of the issues highlighted are addressed.
