Call to 'stop the merry-go-round' over Mayo healthcare crisis

"The public is sick and tired of the same old questions being answered and nothing being delivered to solve the trolley crisis in Mayo University Hospital.

That's the assertion of former Castlebar councillor, Harry Barrett.

Barrett was speaking ahead of next Tuesday's HSE Forum West meeting in Galway.

He maintains that these meetings have now turned into a question and answer merry-go- Round, with nothing being delivered on the ground to solve the crisis.

Barrett stated: "We will have the same old song and dance routine between HSE management and local representatives.

"Questions will be asked and the same stock answers will be given.

"It will not provide a single solution the crisis happening in Mayo University Hospital everyday.

"This has been going on for months now with not one single solution provided to end the trolley crisis.

"We still have elderly, vulnerable patients waiting for hours, stuck on trolleys up in our hospital and we all know the main reason for all of this.

"We have a GP crisis in Co. Mayo and this is affecting Westdoc and then results in the crazy numbers attending the emergency department in Castlebar.

"HSE management now must be forced to provide solutions to this crisis.

"If they cannot provide sufficient GPs and open primary care centres to cover an out-of-hours service in this County, they should stand down and disband the HSE Forum West altogether.

"All it is doing is generating expenses and not dealing with serious health issues affecting the people of the country.

"I am calling now on all attendees at the next HSE Forum West meeting to start providing solutions to end this trolley crisis.

"We know the reasons, we know the effects on sick elderly patients and we know the stress it is putting on staff.

"Let us start hearing about solid solutions now. Please no more questions: answers only."