Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin has welcomed confirmation from the management of Mayo General Hospital that it is considering using St Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar as temporary accommodation for its renal dialysis unit while work is being completed on Mayo General’s unit in the New Year.
“I strongly welcome this development. I have made strong representations to management at Mayo General Hospital on this issue and I am very glad that they are considering using St Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar as temporary accommodation while the extension work on the renal dialysis unit is being completed.
On behalf of the 51 people who depend on the renal dialysis service for their very survival, I would urge management to avail of the facility at St Mary’s Hospital.”
Deputy Mulherin told the Mayo Advertiser she was delighted that the unit in Mayo General Hospital is being extended but criticised the decision by HSE west that the 51 patients and nursing staff using the unit would have to travel to Merlin Park Hospital in Galway as a temporary measure.
“Each patient must receive dialysis treatment three to four times a week and each treatment takes three to four hours on a renal dialysis machine. Having to travel to Galway on bad roads for this treatment for up to four months is simply not a reasonable or acceptable option.
“We must consider that some of those who receive the treatment are in a weak state. Some people will have to travel from far flung areas like Belmullet which can be a 250-mile return journey from Galway. Numerous patients and their families have expressed extreme hesitation to me about this issue.
“In the interest of human decency, I would urge the management of Mayo General to take the right decision and avail of the facilities at St Mary’s Hospital, Castlebar,” said Dep Mulherin.
