Mayo ae in fit for purpose review

A REVIEW needs to take place to examine if the current accident and emergency department at Mayo General Hospital is ‘fit for purpose’, The Connaught Telegraph has learned.

That’s one of the key recommendations made following an extensive internal investigation at the facility.

The ‘strictly private and confidential final report’, commissioned by the Saolta University Health Group in the aftermath of a patient’s death last year, has been seen by The Connaught Telegraph. 

The probe team, headed by Dr. Pat Nash, said the review is required ‘as all interviewees (during the investigation) reported that patients frequently and on multiple occasions moving in and out of cubicles was normal practice, leading to increased risk’.

The dossier pointed out: 'The effectiveness of patient allocation needs to be carefully monitored and implemented to reach a standard such that every patient who presented to the department has a named nurse.'

Another recommendation stated there should be ward rounds by consultants in the A&E ‘in order to ensure patient safety’.

'This should be frequent enough to capture the number of patients coming through the department,' it stated.

The report further pointed out that standards in relation to best practice in documentation of clinical care needs to be reiterated to all staff and documentation needs to be audited across all disciplines.

The review team identified the fact there is no local protocol-driven care in relation to the management of patients with traumatic head injuries presenting at the department. It also cited a poor handover practice between the medical staff and members of the acute medical assessment unit.