Mayo hospital still left waiting for neurological services eight years after report

A west of Ireland Oireachtas member has renewed his appeal over the lack of neurological services at Mayo University Hospital to be addressed.

Senator Sean Kyne said the absence of neurology cover at the Castlebar facility results in patients having to travel by ambulance to either Galway or Sligo for assessment or treatment.

He elaborated: "They then undergo a return journey, having been seen.

"Some of these patients, as one would expect, are very ill and having to take such a long journey is not easy for them.

"In addition, neurology services in Galway are under pressure and the waiting lists are considerable.

"I understand that under the 2016 model of care report, all model 3 hospitals should have neurological cover. Eight years after that report, Mayo still does not have them."

Tony Canavan, head of the Saolta Hospitals Group which covers the Mayo centre, stated: "It is a significant gap and it reflects the growth in demand for neurological services generally and our ability to respond to that with our current level of resources.

"We do not have a firm or funded plan to provide neurological services at Mayo University Hospital currently.

"We need to look at the provision of those services in the context of an overall strategy for the region and within the hospital group.

"There are other model 3 hospitals in our region that are also struggling to provide adequate neurological services.

"Even the model 4 hospital in Galway, with the current resource, is struggling with the workload.

"There is a clear and demonstrated need for additional support but how we provide that and where it is located is the issue.

"We have to be very clear that we are doing the best that we can on that."