Second Letterkenny hospital flood caused by intense rainfall

An investigation into a flood at a Co Donegal hospital has resulted in the digging of a huge trench as well as the stationing of a pumping vehicle at the premises. An overall report into the flooding at Letterkenny General Hospital on August 5th last has been presented to the hospital's Rebuilding Steering Committee Group. The group was set up after an original flood on July 26th, 2013, caused almost €40 million worth of damage.

A special investigation into the latest flood, which resulted in the hospital’s emergency department being forced to shut for three hours, has been completed.It found that the rainfall in August last was even more intense than last year’s fall, which affected 70 per cent of the hospital building’s footprint.

A spokesman for the HSE said the latest flood caused minimal damage to the fabric of the hospital and there was no damage to equipment. The overall clean-up and drainage of flood water cost between €300,000 and €400,000.

“The investigation team identified as a matter of urgency what immediate remedial action needed to be taken to prevent a recurrence of the flooding problem,” a HSE statement said.

“Protective measures that have been already put in place in response to the most recent incident include the creation of a drainage trench to intercept surface water run-off from outside the hospital’s boundaries, and the stationing of a vehicle with pumping facilities in the car park (at no charge to the hospital), whilst a suitable flood pump was procured: this pump procurement has now happened.”

The Letterkenny Hospital Rebuild Steering Group now expects to publish the final results of the investigation at the end of next month. The full report and all related documentation will be made available to the public.

Site works have begun for the construction of a new storm-flow routing pipe and associated works at the hospital. The flood-management works will cost about €1 million.