The planned cuts in services at Mayo General Hospital between now and the end of the year will be worse than anticipated – that’s according to Castlebar Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne.

Since the HSE announced almost two weeks ago that €130 million in cost-saving measures will be implemented across the health services between now and the end of December, some details have been filtering through of how cutbacks will affect the Mayo General.

However, Councillor Kilcoyne says he has been informed that all elective surgery at the hospital will be cancelled for the rest of this year.

He also claims one theatre at the hospital will close, along with a number of beds in the Orthopaedic Unit.

The Independent Councillor says the cuts at the hospital are worse than anticipated.

Midwest News has contacted the HSE West today, to confirm if these changes are planned for the Mayo General Hospital.

In response, a statement says that the HSE West, like all other HSE regions, is currently working through its cost containment measures, following on from the recent announcement of €130 million in savings to be achieved this year.

Details will be announced in due course, according to the statement, once the plans are finalised, but no specific timing has been agreed for this.