Mayo University Hospital 'under significant pressure' this morning warn HSE

Mayo University Hospital has announced that it is 'under significant pressure' and is advising patients attending the Emergency Department to expect long waiting lists.

The Irish Nurses and Midwife Organisation's (INMO) latest Trolley Watch figures shows that as of 8am this morning (Wednesday), 40 patients are waiting for a bed in Mayo University Hospital. Of those 40 patients, the INMO says that 22 are in the Emergency Department while 18 are in wards.

Only Limerick University Hospital with 103 patients and Letterkenny University Hospital with 52 have more patients waiting for beds this morning. This morning's Trolley Watch figures is a significant increase from yesterday's figures when 29 patients were waiting for a bed.

In a statement, the management of Mayo University Hospital explained that over the last two days over 300 people attended the Emergency Department at the Castlebar hospital and they are advising that patients who attend the ED for routine and non-urgent treatment will experience very long waiting times.

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“The high number of people attending who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability throughout the hospital. This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the Emergency Department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward.

“As of 8am this morning [Wednesday] there are 20 patients on trolleys in the ED with other patients on ward trolleys. Given these pressures at the hospital some elective procedures which are not urgent or time critical have been deferred for today and tomorrow. Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.

“All available beds in the hospital are in use. Patients are facing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to a bed on a ward. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted, at the earliest opportunity.

“The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.

“As always, people who do require emergency care are encouraged to attend an emergency department where they will be prioritised.

“The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.

“We continue to request that people only attend the Emergency Department at the hospital if it is an emergency situation. We ask that people attend their GP or out of hours service in the first instance if at all possible. The Roscommon Injury Unit is also open from 8am to 8pm to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over five years of age.
“All visitors to the hospital will be required to practice good hand hygiene and use hand gel regularly, face masks are available for use throughout the hospital,” the statement read.