Minister commits to further MUH investment during Mayo visit

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly visited Mayo University Hospital (MUH) in Castlebar last Friday before travelling on to Cong to inspect the site of the new Daisy Lodge. 

While in Cong, Minister Donnelly spoke to the Western People about overcrowding at MUH - last January, it was revealed that MUH was the third most overcrowded hospital in the country.

“Mayo University Hospital has been through a tough time; there have been far too many patients on trolleys in the emergency department and the waiting lists were going up,” the Minister said, adding that he spent several hours in the hospital on Friday and could see a turnaround.

The Minister said MUH's outpatient list and patients on trolleys had fallen by about one-third this year while the number of people being treated in the emergency department was up nearly 20% on last year.

With over 4,400 patients waiting on trolleys in the hospital in 2023, Minister Donnelly mentioned that the length of stay in MUH has been reduced, which has freed up much-needed beds.

“The patient flow in the hospital is much better. It feels like there has been a county-wide response to help this. It doesn't mean everything is fixed, as it’s not, but I have to say I was very encouraged by the falling waiting lists, the falling trolley numbers and the new services being rolled out.” 

Paying tribute to MUH staff, Minister Donnelly said the Government was committed to further investment at the facility.

“I want to see another bed block built if we can get a final agreement on the 1,500 beds around the country. I want Mayo to be one of those locations.”