Ambulances Diverted As Flu Outbreak Grows

The flu has this week hit Northern Ireland hospitals hard - with one facility, Dundonald's Ulster Hospital even having to divert sick patients to other hospitals due to an increased demand on its A&E Department.

Yesterday, all ambulances were being sent to other Belfast hospitals due to an "unprecedented number of emergency admissions over recent days".

A spokesman for the South Eastern HSC Trust said the emergency department had been under immense pressure due to an increase in the number of people being admitted with various complaints - including the flu.

She said a range of measures were in place to manage the situation and that staff were working with colleagues in the Belfast Trust to ensure all patients in the area were being treated.

"Whilst all the hospitals across the province are having to deal with abnormal numbers of patients, the situation is well under control," she said.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Royal, City and Mater in Belfast said they were doing their best to cope and "treat patients safely".

John Compton, Chief Executive of the South Eastern Trust, said "dedicated staff were working flat out in very difficult circumstances".

This is the second time in weeks things have reached near-critical levels of admissions.

Earlier this month, the Northern Health Trust cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery at Antrim and Causeway hospitals, as resources were stretched.

It said both hospitals had seen increased numbers of people, particularly the elderly, with flu-like symptoms and chest infections.

At that time, the Belfast Health Trust also had to cancel some operations because of the number of patients with flu symptoms.

(BMcC/JM)