Mayo hospital postpones some elective procedures due to site pressures

SOME elective procedures are being postponed at Mayo University Hospital, which is under significant pressure with high attendances in recent days.

All available beds are in use and every effort is being made to discharge patients who are ready to go home so that beds will become available for patients who need to be admitted at the earliest opportunity.

However, due to the pressures on the site and the lack of bed capacity, the hospital is postponing a number of elective day case and inpatient adult procedures. Urgent, time sensitive cases are being prioritised.

Patients are being contacted directly if their procedure is being postponed.

Outpatient appointments are proceeding as usual and people should come to their appointments unless advised otherwise. However, anyone who has symptoms of Covid-19 or is a contact of someone with Covid-19 should not come to their appointment and should reschedule by contacting the number on their appointment letter.

The hospital, in a statement, said it acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologised for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.