Figures revealed yesterday by the Service Manager at Mayo General Hospital, Mr Denis Mullins to a joint policing committee meeting in Castlebar – showed that gardai had to be called 25 times last year to deal with serious disturbances at the A and E unit of the Castlebar Hospital.

There were a further 34 serious incidents mostly in A and E which did not require garda intervention.

The figures confirm an issue raised throughout last year by Erris based Fine Gael counillor Gerry Coyle who witnessed first hand an incident in the A and E unit of the hospital when he brought in a patient.

 He said he felt intimidated when a large group of people came into the waiting room with a single injured person. The group demanded immediate attention for their patient and accused staff of discrimination because others were prioritised for attention.

Speaking to Midwest News today the councillor says he raised the matter with Minister Shatter last week and the Minister explained there is no simple solution. Problems occur at A and E Units throughout the country.

Councillor Coyle believes there should be a limit of two people with any one patient entering the A and E. He says it’s beyond him why up to ten people sometimes accompany a patient into A and E.