Urgent plan needed to stop cancellations of elective care appointments at MUH
Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh has expressed deep concern and frustration at the level of scheduled appointments cancelled at Mayo University Hospital, warning that patients across the county are being subjected to repeated delays and unacceptable uncertainty while trying to access care. Teachta Conway-Walsh said:
“Whenever we have a surge of patients presenting at the Emergency Department, we see knock-on cancellations of scheduled elective procedures due to overcrowding and bed shortages. According to data obtained from the HSE by Sinn Féin, 2,697 appointments were cancelled at MUH in 2025, up from 1,297 in 2024. This is a worsening problem for MUH that the government appear to have made no progress on, and it is patients across Mayo who are suffering.
“The cancellation of scheduled appointments at Mayo University Hospital is deeply distressing and frustrating for patients and their families. These are people who have already waited months - and in some cases years - for treatment, only to be told that their appointment has been postponed.”
Teachta Conway-Walsh said that for many patients this is not the first time their appointment has been cancelled: “For many patients, this is not the first time their procedure has been cancelled. They are being left in limbo to manage their own pain, while their condition deteriorates and their anxiety about their health increases. “Elective care should never be treated as optional. It is essential, planned care that people depend on to maintain their quality of life and prevent their conditions from worsening.
“The staff at MUH are doing their absolute best for everyone, but they do not have the resources they need to deal with the level of patients presenting at the hospital. The fact that scheduled operations are being cancelled due to overcrowding in the Emergency Department highlights a systemic failure in planning and capacity. Emergency pressures should not come at the expense of those waiting for vital procedures.”
Teachta Conway-Walsh added:
“Only yesterday, a press release from the HSE advised patients to plan ahead and consider all available care pathways before attending MUH Emergency Department due to increased demand during holiday periods.
“Overcrowding leads to cancellations, cancellations lead to longer waiting lists and longer waits lead to more complex and serious health issues for patients. This underlines the urgent need for better planning, increased staffing and greater investment in capacity, both in hospital beds and community care services.
“All patients in Mayo deserve timely access to healthcare. They should not have to endure repeated cancellations because the system cannot cope with predictable pressures.
“The Government and the HSE must ensure that elective care is protected and that MUH is properly resourced to meet the needs of the population it serves across Mayo.”