Elderly patient found in drain after hospital disappearance

A patient went missing from Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar, Co Mayo, and was later found in a drain about four miles away. This incident happened on February 1, 2025, when the elderly man, in his 80s, was a patient at St John’s Unit. He was discovered by a passing driver who noticed him in the drain. The driver recognized that he had a hospital gown on, which helped identify him. She took him out of the drain, called for help, and provided him with tea. Local officials are concerned about the safety protocols in place at the hospital. Cllr Michael Kilcoyne raised these concerns during a health meeting, emphasizing the need for measures to prevent such incidents in the future. He noted that the patient was very fortunate this time, as being in the drain longer could have resulted in serious harm. In response, Mary Warde, the Integrated Health Area Manager at Mayo University Hospital, explained that while patient safety is a priority, patients are allowed to leave the wards. Staff cannot legally prevent adults with capacity from doing so. There are also protocols in place for when a patient goes missing, and extra precautions are taken for vulnerable patients. Cllr Kilcoyne also questioned the staff levels in the unit at the time of the incident. He expressed concern that on Saturdays, the staffing may not meet the daily needs of the patients. Warde confirmed that while there was a multi-disciplinary team on duty, no consultant was physically present that day. Staff levels differ on weekends compared to weekdays. The hospital is continuing to review this incident as part of its internal safety procedures.