Relatives asked to make beds

Patient care in two of the west's major hospitals could be affected by a dispute over making beds.

The Western Health Board has described as "critical" the situation in Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, and Roscommon County Hospital. The board has appealed to relatives to come to the hospitals and help make beds.

Dr Mary Hynes, the WHB director of public health, said the board was "satisfied, in general" with the level of emergency cover.

The Irish Nurses' Organisation regional organiser, Ms Claire Treacy, said the WHB and local management in Mayo General and Roscommon had been "well aware" for the past three weeks that nurses would not be performing these non-nursing duties and should have dealt with it before now. Other issues had also not been resolved in these two hospitals, she said.

The INO had been informed there would be only two delivery packs to deal with Caesarean sections available at any time in Mayo General, and this was only resolved yesterday, she said.

The west's second largest general hospital has also appealed for help from relatives of patients.

"We would welcome anyone who would be willing to provide meals," Mr Denis Minton, chief executive of Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe, Co Galway, said. Portiuncula is "severely stretched" but "coping like everywhere else", Mr Minton said.

For community services, which have been cancelled, the numbers to ring between 9.30 a.m. and 5 p.m. are Galway (091) 523122; Mayo (094) 22333; Roscommon (0903) 27990.

For hospitals, the 24-hour information numbers are: Merlin Park Regional, Galway (091) 775775; University College Hospital, Galway (091) 524222; St Bridget's Hospital, Ballinasloe, (0905) 42117; Mayo General Hospital, Castlebar, (094) 21733; St Mary's Hospital, Castlebar (094) 21333; and Roscommon County Hospital (0903) 26200.