With Mayo University Hospital issuing yet another alert this week asking the public not to attend at the Emergency Department unless absolutely essential, a Mayo TD has called for the government to intervene and provide respite care beds in Mayo to tackle the problem.
Michael Ring raised the need for respite care beds in County Mayo, particularly in the Sacred Heart Hospital, Castlebar, in the Dáil this week, following which, the HSE confirmed that “Community Healthcare West will be opening two beds, one for respite and one for rehabilitation from the 15th May at Sacred Heart Hospital Castlebar.”
While welcoming this news, Deputy Ring said: “With ever-increasing pressures on Mayo University Hospital, it is vital we have more respite beds so that patients past the need for acute medical care in MUH can be transferred for step-down care.
“The respite beds in the Sacred Heart Hospital have been closed for quite some time. This has created huge problems for Mayo University Hospital and for families of patients who need this care. The Sacred Heart Hospital is very highly regarded for the work they do and I am pleased to see that a rehabilitative bed is now going to be opened there as well.”
On Tuesday of this week, MUH issued a statement noting that over 170 patients attended the Emergency Department on Monday - a 30% higher rate than average, adding: "The high level of admissions is leading to long waiting times in the ED and the hospital apologises to patients and their families for the upset these delays are causing. All available beds are in use. Every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready and safe to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted", and recommended Out of Hours GP and pharmacies and the Injury Unit in Roscommon University Hospital as alternative options.
