Mayo patients 'paying the price for hospital under-investment'
"The emergency department is now seeing more than 41,000 patients a year despite being built to deal with around 25,000."
"The unannounced HIQA inspection carried out on 17 and 18 June 2025 confirms exactly what patients and staff in Mayo University Hospital have been telling us for years."
That's according to Castlebar Independent Councillor Harry Barrett.
He elaborated: "I have repeatedly raised concerns about overcrowding, trolley numbers and staff shortages.
"This report proves those concerns were well founded and shows that people in Mayo are being let down by a health service that simply cannot keep up with demand.
"The figures speak for themselves.
"The emergency department is now seeing more than 41,000 patients a year despite being built to deal with around 25,000.
"During the inspection, the hospital was on red escalation, with patients waiting on trolleys and staff under enormous pressure.
"What really jumped out at me was that staff told HIQA they can safely manage up to five patients on trolleys in the corridor, yet they were regularly trying to cope with between 14 and 16.
"That is not fair on patients who are sick and frightened, and it is certainly not fair on the doctors, nurses and healthcare staff who are doing everything they can in very difficult circumstances.
"The report also highlights ongoing staffing shortages.
"It says Mayo University Hospital still needs dozens more nurses and healthcare assistants, while a national review into safe staffing levels for the emergency department has still not been completed, despite Mayo raising the issue.
"Even more worrying is that an important patient safety system has not yet been introduced in the emergency department because there are not enough staff.
"We cannot keep accepting this as normal. Every person in Mayo deserves safe, timely care when they arrive at our hospital.
"I am calling on every Mayo TD to put politics aside and work together to secure the extra funding and staff this hospital urgently needs.
"I am also calling on the Minister for Health to step in immediately, complete the Safe Staffing Framework for Mayo University Hospital and provide the resources that have been identified.
"The staff in Mayo University Hospital have my full support. They are working flat out every day in conditions that are far from ideal. They deserve better, and so do the people of Mayo."