Thirty-one patients left on trolleys at MUH for 24 hours or more

A total of 31 patients attending the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) during the summer had to wait 24 hours or more before being allocated a bed.

In information provided to the Regional Health Forum West and North West, the HSE revealed that total attendances at the emergency department at MUH in June amounted to 3,944, with six patients waiting 24 hours or more for a bed; in July, some 4,262 people attended and 13 were left waiting 24 hours or more, while 4,027 attended in August, with 12 left waiting 24 hours or more.

Castlebar-based Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said the delay in providing beds was "not acceptable".

“Those people were waiting more than 24 hours, that is a long time. I know the total is just 31 but that is 31 left on trolleys which is really not acceptable, especially for elderly people. Even if it was only one person it is too much.” 

Integrated Area Health Manager for Mayo, Mary Warde, stated: “We accept one is one too many. Every effort is made to prioritise older people, especially those over 75, and none of that age were waiting over 24 hours. We are endeavouring to decrease the numbers but as you can see, June, July and August is when these cases arose and we do have capacity issues then.”

• Published as part of the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.