Minister highlights improvement in overcrowding at Mayo Emergency Department

OVERCROWDING at the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital has improved significantly, the Minister for Health has reported.

West and northwest hospital emergency departments recorded 26% fewer patients waiting on trolleys for the first five months of the year, meaning there were 3,363 fewer patients waiting on trolleys at 8 a.m. across these hospitals compared to the same period last year.

Among the hospitals showing a reduction in patients on trolleys were:

45% reduction in Mayo University Hospital.

40% reduction in Portiuncula University Hospital.

25% reduction in Sligo University Hospital.

The impressive performance by hospital staff contributed greatly to the overall improved performance nationally, with the number of patients on trolleys in the first five months of the year down 14% nationally compared to the same period last year.

This meant there were 7,800 fewer patients waiting for hospital beds at 8 a.m. nationally. The improved national performance happened even though 62,000 more patients presented to emergency departments compared to last year.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly updated Cabinet with information showing significant reductions in trolley numbers, as measured daily by the HSE in most hospitals.

Far fewer older patients experienced long waits in emergency departments, with the number of patients aged 75 years and over waiting long periods down by 20%.