People of Mayo 'shocked' by lack of investment in hospital - TD

Mayo University Hospital has one of the worse ambulance turnaround times in the State and that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future, a Mayo TD has stated.

Deputy Rose Conway Walsh said half of all the ambulances arriving at the Castlebar facility are taking more than an hour to reach patients.

This is being driven by the lack of capacity as well as the lack of home help and community beds, she said.

The Erris-based TD elaborated: "Numerous times this year, the hospital has put out warnings about visiting the emergency department due to overcrowding.

"Some 10,027 people are waiting to see a consultant at Mayo University Hospital and 1,365 patients are still waiting for surgical procedures.

"Despite the scale of the crisis, the government decided to stop investing in health and people keep asking why this is.

"They cannot make sense of it. The head of the HSE said unless he makes cuts, there will be a guaranteed deficit in the health budget.

"The people of Mayo are absolutely shocked to see the government throw in the towel on health.

"When access to healthcare is getting harder and harder, the government chooses to stop investing."

There are two long-awaited projects at Ballina and Belmullet hospitals that cannot be abandoned, she also highlighted.

"These projects are desperately needed and must go ahead," she added.