20/01/2012
Antrim Hospital Waiting Time 'Unacceptable'
Northern Ireland’s Health Minister has criticised the length of time that patients are waiting to be treated at Antrim Area Hospital.
Recently it has been reported that patients have been faced with long delays and eight-hour trolley waits before being given a bed.
Edwin Poots said the hospital was "fit for purpose" but admitted more work needed to be done to improve care and added that the length of time patients are waiting for treatment at the Hospital is "unacceptable".
Meanwhile Antrim Council is to set up a meeting with Antrim Hospital chiefs amid fears of a beds crisis. Councillors agreed yesterday that it was imperative to meet with both the hospital’s Chief Executive as well as frontline staff for an update.
The Background
It emerged last week that staff at some casualty units were asked to discharge patients and cancel operations in order to free up beds, and that the Northern Health & Social Care Trust has written to GPs asking them to refer patients from Newtownabbey to the A&E at the Mater Hospital to ease pressure on Antrim Area Hospital.
Figures released by the Northern Health & Social Care Trust showed that 730 people waited for over 12 hours at the casualty unit at Antrim Area Hospital between December 1 and January 12, an average of 17 patients each day.
(LB)
Recently it has been reported that patients have been faced with long delays and eight-hour trolley waits before being given a bed.
Edwin Poots said the hospital was "fit for purpose" but admitted more work needed to be done to improve care and added that the length of time patients are waiting for treatment at the Hospital is "unacceptable".
Meanwhile Antrim Council is to set up a meeting with Antrim Hospital chiefs amid fears of a beds crisis. Councillors agreed yesterday that it was imperative to meet with both the hospital’s Chief Executive as well as frontline staff for an update.
The Background
It emerged last week that staff at some casualty units were asked to discharge patients and cancel operations in order to free up beds, and that the Northern Health & Social Care Trust has written to GPs asking them to refer patients from Newtownabbey to the A&E at the Mater Hospital to ease pressure on Antrim Area Hospital.
Figures released by the Northern Health & Social Care Trust showed that 730 people waited for over 12 hours at the casualty unit at Antrim Area Hospital between December 1 and January 12, an average of 17 patients each day.
(LB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Cloudy with further outbreaks of rain this morning, heavy at times, especially over north Antrim. Becoming drier and brighter this afternoon with sunny spells and a few showers. Winds becoming light. Maximum temperature 9 °C.Tonight:Further showers this evening, some heavy, especially in the east, dying out early tonight. Then mainly dry with clear periods developing, leading to a touch of frost and icy patches. Minimum temperature -1 °C.