Ambulances called in from as far as Roscommon during LUH handover delays
Donegal is having to rely on ambulance crews from neighbouring counties when local resources are tied up at Letterkenny University Hospital, a councillor has warned.
There are major concerns that the county’s ambulance service has not grown in line with increasing demand and population pressures.
Councillor Gerry McMonagle raised the issue at the Regional Health Forum after seeking details on how often ambulances were left queued at Letterkenny University Hospital with patients on board.
While this data was unavailable, Cllr McMonagle spoke of multiple ambulances being backed up at the hospital at the same time, leaving Donegal dependent on crews travelling from Sligo, Leitrim and Roscommon to provide cover.
Cllr McMonagle also said money being spent on private ambulances should instead be invested in Donegal’s National Ambulance Service.
Spending on private ambulances in Letterkenny rose from €1.36 million in 2024 to €1.75 million in 2025, an increase of almost €395,000.
“If that (money) could be invested in the National Ambulance Service, we wouldn’t have to depend, when multiple ambulances are queued up in Letterkenny, which happens quite regularly, on other counties to help and support the ambulance service in Donegal," Cllr McMonagle told the meeting.
“Donegal is a massive county, as you know. If you’re coming from Sligo or Leitrim, and a lot of times Roscommon, it’s a quare distance they travel to the west of the county, or indeed the north of the county.”
"I think the National Ambulance Service needs to look at its quota and its operating model," Cllr McMonagle added.
"We need to increase the services in the National Ambulance Service for Donegal, particularly around this time with the hospital experiencing really high numbers."
"But we can’t fault you for the work that you do. You do a fantastic job."
National ambulance crews conveyed 8,887 patients to Letterkenny University Hospital’s Emergency Department between January and August 2026, up slightly from 8,752 during the same period last year.
When questioned how many many days in 2025 and 2026 were ambulances queued up with patients on board awaiting admission to the LUH Emergency Department, the NAS said it does not hold data in a format that would allow this data to be determined.
Brendan McGovern, NAS General Manager Area Operations West North West, said that when several ambulances are delayed at the Emergency Department, crews work with hospital staff to speed up handovers and return crews to service.
Measures include joint assessment of lower-acuity patients who may be suitable to remain in the Emergency Department, as well as the “cohorting” of patients under the care of an existing ambulance crew where clinically appropriate.
Hospital Ambulance Liaison Persons are also deployed at LUH during periods of peak demand to assist with patient flow and clinical oversight.
The NAS said it operates a national “Dynamic Deployment” system, allowing the nearest available ambulance to respond to the most urgent call regardless of county boundaries.
Resources can also be moved from areas where ambulance cover is temporarily concentrated to places where cover has been reduced.
Mr McGovern stated that the effectiveness of these measures depends on both hospital capacity and whether sufficient ambulance resources are available elsewhere.
Mr McGovern told the meeting that hospital queues were a symptom of wider pressures across the health service, including the availability of beds.
“I do agree that we need more resources,” he said.
He confirmed that additional capacity is planned for Donegal, with a further 12-hour, seven-day-a-week service in Killybegs due to be operating by the end of this year, supported by an additional ambulance.
Mr McGovern said the service is a specific part of the NAS plan to increase resources in Donegal.
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