NI hospital trolley waits hit all time high

The number of people waiting on trolleys in Northern Ireland's hospitals are at an all time high, according to latest figures.

More than 150 patients are currently lying in accident and emergency departments waiting for a bed as of Tuesday morning, the highest figure since records began four years ago the Department of Health revealed.

At present there are 29 people waiting on trollies at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, 27 at the Royal Victoria Hospital, 21 at Belfast City Hospital and 14 at the Mater Hospital.

A statement from the Department of Health said it regretted the figures and said that the numbers had resulted "from the high volume of cases which the hospitals are having to handle at the moment".

"In preparation for the extra demands that would be made on services during the winter months, an additional £7 million was allocated to support measures to deal with pressures this winter and this was used to create an additional 70 beds in hospitals throughout Northern Ireland," the statement continued.

"However, the substantial growth in the volume of cases presenting at our hospitals means that further investment is needed. This cannot be created overnight and work is well under way to build additional capacity at key hospitals - a further 30 beds will be available within the next two or three months.

"In the meantime, health and social services staff in hospitals and the community are working tirelessly to minimise the difficulties that patients are facing and further steps are being explored to try to minimise the disruption and discomfort for patients."

It is thought that both respiratory illnesses and a shortage of beds have played a part in the rise.

(MB)