Special council meeting sought on Mayo hospital overcrowding crisis

A former Castlebar councillor has contacted the party group whips on Mayo County Council to debate a motion on the overcrowding crisis at Mayo University Hospital.

Harry Barrett has requested that the following motion be placed on the agenda of a special meeting of the authority.

It reads: "We, the members of this Mayo County Council, express our deep concern about the high number of sick patients who are forced to wait on hospital trolleys in Mayo University Hospital.

"This is a serious issue that has been ongoing for far too long and is having a detrimental effect on the health and well-being of our community.

"The long wait times on hospital trolleys are causing immense stress and discomfort for patients, who are already suffering from illness or injury.

"Furthermore, this lack of timely access to medical treatment has resulted in some cases in patients' conditions worsening or even becoming life-threatening.

"We note with disappointment that despite numerous calls for action, the government has failed to take any meaningful steps to address this issue.

"This is unacceptable, and we believe that it is our duty to take a stand and demand action.

"Therefore, we call on this council to condemn the high number of sick patients who are left waiting on hospital trolleys in Mayo University Hospital.

"We urge the government to take immediate action to address this issue by providing additional resources to hospitals and hiring more staff.

"We also call for a special meeting with the Minister for Health to discuss this issue in detail and to explore possible solutions.

"It is imperative that the government takes this issue seriously and works to ensure that our community has access to the healthcare that they deserve.

"We believe that, as a community, it is our duty to stand up for the rights of our fellow citizens, and we urge all members of this council to support this motion."

It is understood the motion has been circulated to elected members by Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne and he is consulting the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael whips on the matter.

* A total of 31 patients are left without beds at Mayo University Hospital today.