Mayo University Hospital

West/Northwest · Westport Road, Curragh, Castlebar, Co. Mayo

public hospitalModel 3

On-call: what to expect

Rota
24-hour
Busy-ness
8/10

1 quiet · 10 relentless

The rota

Surgical call is a 24 hour shift.

Workload & stress

Medical call is VERY busy - great learning experience, but can be stressful.

Surgical call wasn't too busy during the weekdays, but the daytime can be tiring.

At the weekends, there is very little phlebotomy, so you have to do up to 30 bloods.

Support on call

Two registrars are rostered now (one for ward and one for ED), which wasn't the case previously and probably makes it a bit easier.

Described by some as “dangerously understaffed”.

Worked here? Add your experience or suggest an update
15
Interns at any time
30
Posts including this site

3 six-month surgical, 5 six-month medical, 6 three-month surgical + three-month medical. All jobs are 2 rotations, either first half (July to Jan) or second half (Jan to July).

Pros
Close-knit group, peripheral hospitals are great for getting to know people
Very social bunch
Lots of outdoor activities, Croagh Patrick, Connemara, Achill Island, Clew Island nearby
Good restaurants, pubs, gyms in Castlebar/Westport
About 1.5 hours from Galway
Cons
Very rough on call
Town is small, can be depressing
24 hour call on surgical rotation was one of the worst things you can do as an intern, not to mention you did 1-3 of them per week which could total 100 hours a week
On-Call
3
Overall
5.5
Overall
4.8
Nightlife & Social
4
Transport Links
2.7
Accommodation
6.8
Affordability
7.5

6 reviews

Living in Castlebar as an NCHD→

Gastro / GIM

3.5/5
Would do again
Mixed views

50h per week (reported hours)

Overall
6.5
Staffing Levels
7
Teaching
6
Workload
7
Enjoyment
6.5
Supervision
6
Career Value
7.5

Advice

Similar to general medicine, but solid team and staffing

Day to Day

Ward rounds, clinic exposure and scope prep
Adapted from 2 intern responses; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Advice: Similar to gen med , but solid team and staffing
Day to day: Ward rounds Clinics exposure Scope prep

General Surgery

1.7/5
Would do again
Would not choose again

60–85h per week (reported hours)

Overall
3
Staffing Levels
2
Teaching
3
Workload
2.7
Enjoyment
1.7
Supervision
2
Career Value
2

Advice

Get your leave in EARLY, and if it's denied, FIGHT for it! Help out your co-interns. Ask for support or you won't get it. Make friends with the nurses; they are your biggest lifeline for support and can make it more fun. Advocate for your patients - you often hear more about their experience and wishes than the rest of the team.

Day to Day

Ward rounds, bloods, bloods and more bloods. A lot of NGs and catheters. Consults. You are left unsupported during the day so often have to mind the patients on your own. Your co-interns will be your lifeline and if ye make the most of it you’ll make friends for life!
Adapted from 3 intern responses; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Advice: Make sure you take your lunch break every day, doesnt matter how busy you are
Day to day: Ward rounds, notes, consults, bloods (no phlebotomy on surgical wards on the weekend), cannula, scopes consent etc,

Intern 2

Advice: Don't do it
Day to day: Everything

Intern 3

Advice: Get your leave in EARLYY and if it’s denied fight for it!! Help out your co-interns!!! Ask for support or you won’t get it!! Make friends with nurses and it’ll be fun! Advocate for your patients as you often hear more about it their day to day than the rest of the team
Day to day: Ward rounds, bloods bloods and more bloods. A lot of NGs and catheters, Consults. you are left unsupported during the day so often have to mind the patients on your own. Your co-interns will be your lifeline and if ye make the most of it you’ll make friends for life!

Endo / GIM

4/5
Would do again
Would choose again

50–55h per week (reported hours)

Overall
7.5
Staffing Levels
4.5
Teaching
7.5
Workload
7
Enjoyment
6.5
Supervision
8
Career Value
7

Advice

Repetitive job, teams are often understaffed so can get hectic.

Day to Day

Ward rounds, prepare list, ward jobs, consults.
Adapted from 2 intern responses; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Advice: Repetitive job , teams are often understaffed so can get hectic
Day to day: Ward rounds Prep list Ward jobs Consults

Respiratory

4/5
Would do again
Would choose again

50h per week (reported hours)

Overall
8
Staffing Levels
7
Teaching
6
Workload
8
Enjoyment
8
Supervision
7
Career Value
8

Advice

Good job overall. Nothing amazing and nothing awful.

Day to Day

Ward rounds, bloods, consults etc. Regular medical job.
Adapted from 1 intern response; read individual reviews below

Intern 1

Advice: Good job overall. Nothing amazing and nothing awful
Day to day: Ward rounds, bloods, consults etc. Regular med job

Sites you may rotate to

Posts based here share rotations with these hospitals; check the commute before you rank.

UHG30 shared posts · 76 min · 78 kmArlington House Medical Centre2 shared posts · 77 min · 82.5 kmCladdagh Medical Centre1 shared post · 76 min · 79.4 km

Intern posts at this hospital

30 2026/27 posts include at least one rotation at Castlebar, most often general surgery, general internal medicine, geriatric medicine. Blocks at this hospital are highlighted; the rest show you where else the post takes you.

Rotation blocks for posts including Castlebar, 2026/27
PostBlock 1Block 2Block 3Block 4
WNW/002OrthopaedicsUHGCardiologyUHGGeneral SurgeryCastlebarRespiratoryCastlebar
WNW/003General SurgeryCastlebarEndo / GIMCastlebarID / GIMUHGPaediatricsUHG
WNW/006AnaesthesiaUHGNephrologyUHGGeneral SurgeryCastlebarGeriatricsCastlebar
WNW/007General Internal MedicineCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebarGastro / GIMUHGMaxillofacial SurgeryUHG
WNW/008Plastic SurgeryUHGUrologyUHGGastro / GIMCastlebarGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebar
WNW/009General SurgeryCastlebarGeriatricsCastlebarRespiratoryUHGUpper GI SurgeryUHG
WNW/010NeurologyUHGGeriatric MedicineUHGGeneral SurgeryCastlebarEndo / GIMCastlebar
WNW/011Endo / GIMCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebarEmergency MedicineUHGGeriatric MedicineUHG
WNW/012Radiation OncologyUHGGeriatric MedicineUHGGeneral SurgeryCastlebarGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebar
WNW/013General SurgeryCastlebarGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarEndo / GIMUHGRheumatologyUHG
WNW/020Geriatric MedicineUHGGeneral PracticeArlington House Medical CentreGeneral SurgeryCastlebarGastro / GIMCastlebar
WNW/021General SurgeryCastlebarRespiratoryCastlebarGeriatric MedicineUHGEndo / GIMUHG
WNW/052Upper GI SurgeryUHGGeneral PracticeUHG / CladdaghGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebar
WNW/053GeriatricsCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebarMedical OncologyUHGGeneral PracticeArlington House Medical Centre
WNW/054NephrologyUHGMaxillofacial SurgeryUHGGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebar
WNW/055General SurgeryCastlebarGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarENTUHGID / GIMUHG
WNW/056OrthopaedicsUHGUpper GI SurgeryUHGGeriatricsCastlebarAnaesthesiaCastlebar
WNW/057Emergency MedicineCastlebarGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarPlastic SurgeryUHGUrologyUHG
WNW/072UrologyUHGHaematologyUHGGeneral SurgeryCastlebarGeriatricsCastlebar
WNW/112General Internal MedicineCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebarUpper GI SurgeryUHGNephrologyUHG
WNW/113General SurgeryCastlebarGeriatricsCastlebarMaxillofacial SurgeryUHGEmergency MedicineUHG
WNW/114Upper GI SurgeryUHGEmergency MedicineUHGGeriatricsCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebar
WNW/115Maxillofacial SurgeryUHGGeriatric MedicineUHGGeneral Internal MedicineCastlebarGeneral SurgeryCastlebar
WNW/138GeriatricsCastlebarGastro / GIMCastlebarUrologyUHGLower GI SurgeryUHG
Every specialty rotated here (8)
SpecialtyBlocks
General Surgery26
General Internal Medicine12
Geriatrics8
Endo / GIM4
Gastro / GIM4
Respiratory4
Anaesthesia1
Emergency Medicine1

Showing 24 of 30.

Browse all 30 posts→

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