Saolta Chief Tony Canavan has offered assurances that plans are being put in place to cope with anticipated public demand throughout the winter season.
In reply to a request sent by local election candidate Harry Barrett requesting that a plan be put in place well in advance, Mr Canavan wrote: "Dear Mr Barrett, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your email. I also wish to reassure you that we plan and prepare for the additional pressures associated with winter in each of our hospitals including Mayo University Hospital. We are currently in the process of drafting the plan for this coming winter, and would expect to be in a position to share it with various stakeholders, including Public Representatives and the General Public in early Autumn.
"Our aim each winter is to ensure that we use all available resources both within the Hospital and the Community as efficiently as possible; however, in respect of Mayo University Hospital, it is clear that significant capital investment is required to address the access issues that you have described. It will take a number of years to put this investment in place.
"I should also say that the backdrop for all of this planning is the 10 year strategic plan for the Health Services, Slaintecare. As part of the Slaintecare plan, we are investing heavily in providing additional Services in the Community in order to keep people well and out of hospital for as long as possible and to facilitate their discharge from hospital when this is necessary."
