No funding for modular unit promised for Mayo A&E

 

NO funding is in place for a modular unit to deal with overcrowding issues at the emergency department (ED) of Mayo University Hospital.

The HSE West has informed Councillor Michael Loftus that there was a business case submitted to the national office comprising of three stages to address access capacity in the emergency department in Castlebar.

A spokesperson revealed: “Stage one is a mobile unit consisting of an eight-bay medical assessment unit with appropriate clinical assessment rooms and treatment rooms.

“If supported that would take a significant portion of foot fall from the ED and free up capacity of 10 inpatient medical beds.

“The second stage of the proposal is for a two story modular build onto the existing ED with a purpose built Acute Medical Assessment Unit on the second floor that would provide almost double the capacity in the ED and support adult/paediatric segregation.

“This will have to go through the design phase and all the other associated phases of a capital development.

“To date we have not received funding approval to progress this.”

The facility had been promised by Health Minister Simon Harris during a visit to Mayo a number of months ago.