Reason for regular bed shortages at Mayo hospital explained by HSE

The HSE has explained why there are regular bed shortages at Mayo University Hospital (MUH) - leading to daily overcrowding and high numbers of patients being accommodated on trolleys.

A spokesperson for the authority said the problems at the Castlebar facility stemmed from dealing with increasing levels of attendances to its emergency department.

In response to a question by Councillor Michael Kilcoyne at today's meeting of the HSE West Forum, a HSE spokesperson explained: "This increase is resulting in a greater number of admissions to the hospital.

"The care needs of many of these patients require a greater length of stay in hospital.

"Covid-19 is also continuing to have a significant impact on bed capacity.

"Covid takes, on average, somewhere between 10 and 25 beds out of the system - either caring for patients with the virus directly or as a result of bed closures caused by Covid restrictions.

"This results in a reduced in-patient capacity.

"Despite having beds open in St. John's Ward, this is impacting on the site.

"As a result of Covid-19 all of our emergency departments are currently running two pathways to stream patients.

"Nursing staff who previously worked in the Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU) in Castlebar are now working in the Acute Covid Assessment Unit (ACAU) which is 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

"MUH is currently recruiting to re-open the AMAU. It will open three days per week from December 6.

"It is anticipated that this service will increase up to a six-day service in early 2022 as more staff come on stream from an international recruitment campaign.

"This in turn will allow us to re-instate direct access from GP’s back into the AMAU again in early 2022."