The Saolta Hospital Group has confirmed that some ambulances have been delayed at Mayo University Hospital's Emergency Department, due to the pressure on bed availability in the hospital - particularly for Covid-19 patients.
In a statement to Midwest News this evening, management said Mayo University Hospital continues to be extremely busy, as the hospital is currently treating a large number of Covid positive patients - the latest figures show 91 positive patients being treated at the hospital.
Patients are experiencing long waiting times to be admitted from the Emergency Department to an acute bed, and the limited bed availability across the hospital - particularly in the Covid-19 stream - has meant that some ambulances have been delayed being released from the ED - however, management say they're working hard to ensure that ambulance turn-around times are kept to a minimum.
The issue was highlighted earlier by Castlebar Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, who claimed up to 5 ambulances were backed up outside the hospital last night.
Mayo University Hospital management also say they're managing a number of outbreaks of Covid-19 on different wards, and this is having a significant impact.
The hospital is continuously reviewing its staffing rosters, with a view to maximising the number of beds available for patients.
Again, they're reminding people only to attend the hospital's Emergency Department in the case of genuine emergencies, and where possible, to contact their GP instead.
For patients that do attend the RD, they're asked to wait alone to help maintain social distancing, while a companion will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances.
