Chambers welcomes 36 percent bed increase at Mayo University Hospital

Senator Lisa Chambers has welcomed today’s announcement of 96 additional beds at Mayo University Hospital, a 36 percent overall increase. 

This comes as part of the Acute Inpatient Hospital Bed Expansion Plan, which aims to deliver 4,367 acute hospital in-patient beds nationally by 2031.

The European election candidate in the Midlands North West called the increase ‘fantastic news’ for the hospital and ‘the wider community’.

The current number of beds is 267, and this significant enhancement will bring the total to 363 over the next seven years, however this timeline is not set in stone and can potentially be accelerated.

"There is no reason this can't happen sooner. The expansion can be expedited by Mayo University Hospital, ensuring that our healthcare system can meet the growing needs of our population more swiftly," she said.

The Fianna Fáil candidate added: "Increasing the bed capacity by 36 percent will greatly enhance the hospital's ability to provide high-quality care to patients."

Senator Chambers highlighted the urgent need for additional hospital beds to address current capacity issues and improve patient outcomes.

She called the increase in beds ‘crucial’ to reduce wait times, improve patient care, and relieve the strain on healthcare workers. 

“The people of Mayo and the surrounding regions deserve timely access to hospital services, and this expansion is a critical step towards achieving that,” she continued.

The announcement comes just days after Independent councillor, Michael Kilcoyne, said figures released by the HSE surrounding the number of patients who died in Mayo University Hospital’s emergency department raised ‘serious questions’.

The figures showed that 117 people died in the hospital’s emergency department

between 2019 and 2023, a figure the local election candidate described as ‘frightening’.

In a response issued to The Mayo News on the matter, the efforts of the hospital, including ‘efficient bed management’ appear to be working as Saolta explained that a 27 percent drop in the number of patients waiting on trolleys has been recorded so far this year, despite a 19 percent increase in attendances.

Minister of State, Alan Dillon TD, also welcomed the news, explaining the increase in beds follows the recent granting of planning permission at the hospital for an expanded accident and emergency unit, as well as a new Acute Medical Admissions Unit.

“The project will be delivered in several phases. Temporary and relocated prefabricated accommodation will be necessary during the works.

"The people of Mayo are deserving and in need of improved healthcare services and this significant expansion of our acute hospital beds will be reflective of that,” commented Minister Dillon.

Senator Chambers has urged ‘all stakeholders involved to work collaboratively and efficiently’ to complete the ‘much-needed expansion’ as quickly as possible. 

“Our community cannot afford to wait seven years for these additional beds,”  she concluded.