No plan to open Mayo primary care centre at weekends to alleviate ED pressures

There are no plans to extend the opening hours of the primary care centre in Castlebar to alleviate pressures on the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital.

The news has been relayed to Councillor Michael Kilcoyne after submitted a question on the matter at today's meeting of the HSE West Forum.

He was told the centre provide services between 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m daily, Monday to Friday.

There are no plans currently to extend these opening hours.

Services are not acute and do not operate on 24-hour basis.

Breda Crehan-Roche, chief officer, Community Healthcare West, outlined: "The improvements that have happened for Mayo University Hospital following the opening of the centre has resulted in a reduction in the wait list for plain radiology to a maximum one week wait for out-patient x-ray.

"There is also a reduction in ultrasounds. We are running a mammography service in the centre which has resulted in a reduction in the wait times for mammograms for Mayo patients.

"It has also facilitated more Mayo patients having follow up scans locally and not having to travel to UHG.

"There is the day hospital for Older Person Services that is currently running two days a week for ICPOP, awaiting the increase in resources which has resulted in a quality improvement for frail elderly patients.

"All the services provided in the primary care centre help support keeping people at home.

"Currently the X-ray and ultrasound service in Castlebar Primary Care are staffed with one radiographer and one radiographer assistant each and they are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

"Both services are integrated with the main radiology department in MUH and the additional capacity has resulted in improvements to the overall waiting lists for both modalities.

"The relatively recent addition of similar integrated ultrasound services to Claremorris and Ballina PCCs has also helped. In short these services work very well.

"The demand for ultrasound from GPs has grown significantly but, despite this, access remains improved by the provision of the community based services.

"Activity levels have increased to all times highs in recent months as Covid-19 related disruption has abated.

"There are plans in place for a second ultrasound machine/service in Castlebar Primary Care Centre, pending extension of the building, to further improve access in the Castlebar area."