Saolta Hospital Group issues new statement on Covid-19 crossover concerns at Mayo hospital
The Saolta Hospital Group has issued a further statement outlining that staff at Mayo University Hospital 'are not crossing over between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 cases'.
It follows a renewed call yesterday by a member of the HSE West Forum, Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, for HIQA to investigate segregation procedures at the facility.
He did so after expressing disappointment with a statement issued to Mid West Radio on Monday evening by the Saolta Hospital Group in response to growing community concerns over the crossover issue.
Those concerns were highlighted by a number of bereaved families, members of the nursing staff, local elected and party representatives as well as others.
Councillor Kilcoyne said he was was worried by the use of the phrase: 'to the greatest extent possible, patients who were suspected of having Covid-19 or were confirmed of having Covid-19 were kept physically separate from other patients in the hospital'.
"What exactly does 'to the greatest extent possible' mean?"
He further stated: "I don't know why direct questions, like those articulated by nursing staff on RTÈ Radio One's Drivetime programme, were not addressed.
"I and many others, including bereaved families, have been seeking answers but they are not forthcoming.
"We need HIQA to come in and conduct an assessment of segregation procedures and the Saolta Hospital Group should be supportive of this happening," he added yesterday.
Now, in its latest response to the controversy, the group said staff at the Castlebar facility 'do not treat patients with Covid-19 as well as non-Covid patients'.
It stated there are two pathways of care in Mayo University Hospital - one for patients with Covid-19 or suspected cases and the other for non-Covid patients.
Each pathway has separate wards, separate emergency departments and separate intensive care units.
"Staff do not treat patients with Covid-19 as well as non-Covid 19 patients," the statement added.