Long wait times at Mayo hospital Emergency Department today

MAYO University Hospital is under significant pressure today (Tuesday).

Yesterday, over 170 patients attended the Emergency Department, which is a 30% higher attendance rate than average.

The high level of admissions is leading to long waiting times in the ED and the hospital has apologised to patients and their families for the upset these delays are causing.

The high number of people attending the ED who need to be admitted for ongoing treatment means that there is pressure on bed availability. This is resulting in significant delays being experienced by patients in the Emergency Department who are waiting for a bed to become available on a ward.

There are currently a very high number of patients on trolleys in ED awaiting admission to in-patient beds.

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

The hospital is committed to treating everyone who presents at the Emergency Department; people who are seriously injured or ill are assessed and treated as a priority and those who do not require urgent care may be waiting longer.

A statement issued from the hospital set out: We continue to request that people consider other options for non-emergency care such as out of hours GP and pharmacies before attending an ED.

As an alternative to the Emergency Department - for minor injuries - the Injury Unit in Roscommon University Hospital is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day to treat a range of injuries in both adults and children over five years of age.

The hospital acknowledges that these delays are very difficult for patients and their families and apologises for the inconvenience and distress these delays cause.