Mayo University Hospital sees ‘significant improvement’ with overcrowding problems

Mayo Senator Lisa Chambers has welcomed an update from her party colleague, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, showing that Mayo University Hospital has seen a reduction of patients on trolleys of 45 percent in the first five months of this year.

Nationwide, the number of patients on trolleys in the first five months of the year was down 14 percent compared to the same period last year.

This means that 7,800 fewer patients were waiting on a hospital bed, even though 62,000 more patients presented to Emergency Departments compared to last year.

Senator Chambers called the significant ‘excellent news’.

“The reduction is thanks to the hard work and dedication of staff throughout Mayo University Hospital, its Emergency Department and community services,” said the Fianna Fáil senator.

“In government we have delivered an unprecedented increase in funding of our health service over the last four years, with more staff and more hospital beds now than ever before, and I want to thank all those working in hospital and community settings.

“While we are making real progress in reducing Emergency Department overcrowding, we are committed to doing better in tackling hospital waiting lists and identifying ways to improve access to care,” she concluded.