Poots Meets MLAs Over Casualty Services

The growing controversy about accident and emergency (A&E) facilities in local hospitals has been addressed at Stormont.

The NI Health Minister Edwin Poots has now met a delegation of MLAs from the South Belfast constituency to discuss A&E services in Belfast City Hospital.

Speaking after the meeting, the DUP Minister said: "I have had a very useful meeting with Assembly representatives [and] we have addressed a number of issues around the Belfast City Hospital and emergency care provision in the Belfast Trust area," he said.

"I am acutely aware of the issues raised by any possible changes to the A&E structures in the City Hospital and that is why I invited my Assembly colleagues to meet me.

"I am listening to those voicing their concerns," he continued.

"Issues do remain, however, in terms of appropriate junior doctor and consultant cover within the emergency department.

"Ultimately," he said, "patient safety is my top priority and I must act quickly and decisively to ensure that standards are maintained.

"The position in respect of A&E services in Belfast is still being finalised.

"Details are currently under discussion within the Trust. But I can assure everyone that safety and quality of care for patients is the overriding priority," he concluded.

Just last week, the Health Minister was also under pressure from representatives from Lisburn City Council after their A&E services at Lagan Valley hospital were cut - forcing closure at 8pm each night in a reduction in hours - a move also being blamed on a lack of junior doctors.

The department now operates from 9am to 8pm, seven days a week, instead of 24 hours.

Despite assurances from the local heath trust who said the cut in cover at A&E is a temporary measure, expected to last just a few months - campaigners are not so sure - despite efforts to recruit staff continuing.

On The Rise

The news comes as the Department of Health published the 2010/11 Inpatient and Outpatient Hospital Statistics for Northern Ireland.

The data said there were 583,599 inpatient and day case admissions to hospital in Northern Ireland.

This was an increase of 83 on the number of admissions during 2009/10 but was up 5.0% (27,602) on the number admitted during 2006/07.

Of the 583,599 patients admitted to hospital, 50.5% (294,639) were admitted to hospital as an inpatient while the remaining 49.5% (288,960) were admitted for day case treatment.

The day case rate for acute services has steadily increased from 70.3% in 2006/07 to 74.2% in 2010/11.

The greatest increase occurred between 2009/10 and 2010/11 when the day case rate increased by 1.8 percentage points from 72.4% to 74.2%.

See: Battle To Save A&Es Gets Underway

(BMc/GK)