Mayo Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has urged his colleague Minister Simon Harris and the HSE to take immediate action and ensure adequate treatment centres are available in County Mayo when the coronavirus peaks.
Dillon said: "There is an urgent need to ensure that when this coronavirus peaks, Mayo is adequately prepared for the worst case scenario and has secured additional patient treatment centres for the over-flow of patients from Mayo University Hospital.
"I have been in contact with Minister Harris to accelerate operational planning within the county. We have the state of the art Mayo Roscommon Hospice building in Castlebar with a number of in-patient treatment units and self-isolating rooms that's in close proximity to accommodate over-flow patients from Mayo University Hospital. There is also a student nursing ward located within the GMIT Mayo Campus that can also be operational within a short period.
"I understand it is the belief of the HSE and Chief Operating Officer, Anne O’Connor, that the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in Ireland may occur in two weeks’ time, between April 10 to 14.
"While this peak is only a prediction based on current data, we need to ensure that when this peak does come that County Mayo has adequate capacity if needed to cater for all its patients."
