Double Blow As A&Es Closed

There was shock last night at news that Accident and Emergency (A&E) services are to be removed from both Whiteabbey in Co Antrim and the Mid-Ulster hospital in a fortnight.

The Northern Health Trust said the units would be replaced by minor injuries units.

Inpatient cardiology services are also being moved from Whiteabbey to Antrim Area Hospital.

Commenting today, the newly re-elected East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson (pictured) said: "I am disappointed and surprised that the trust have decided to close the A&E provision at Whiteabbey.

"There was always an understanding that any review of provision at Whiteabbey would not take place unless there was sufficient capacity at Antrim hospital," he said, noting that, "I receive complaints about the inability of Antrim hospital to deal with the volume of work that comes its way – with people lying on trolleys for up to two days and staff telling me they don't have enough blankets and pillows for everyone.

"The closure of Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster hospitals will only increase the pressure and frustration felt by patients and staff at Antrim," he said.

"I understand the need to effect efficiencies they can only be acceptable if there is proper planning, if there is a fall back situation and if every effort has been made to minimise the impact on front line services and this has not been the case in this situation."

Over the next few months, the remaining acute medical beds from Whiteabbey and high dependency beds from Mid Ulster will also be transferred.

The remaining medical beds will move from Mid Ulster by mid 2011.

Emergency ambulances will be redirected to the nearest accident and emergency department once the units in Whiteabbey and Mid-Ulster close on 24 May.

The Northern Health Trust's Colm Donaghy said the changes had been planned for some time and were approved by the Health Minister in September 2009 after a 16-week period of consultation.

A senior BMA spokeswoman said: "BMA is extremely concerned at the very short notice given regarding the withdrawal of these services, particularly accident and emergency, from Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey hospitals.

"BMA has always maintained the need for a planned reconfiguration of services rather than a precipitative withdrawal or closure as has happened elsewhere.

"BMA is still waiting for operational detail as to how the resultant increase in demand will be dealt with in Antrim Area Hospital," she said.

"Closure of these services is a major blow to the local communities. It is essential that the medical needs of local people will be met in the future," she concluded.

SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone said the move would cause anger in the community.

"There is a danger here that the people of Mid Ulster will be serviced by a glorified health centre," he said.

Sinn Fein health spokesperson Michelle O'Neill said it was "totally unacceptable".

"I am not convinced that there has been adequate consultation on these closures," she said.

However, Ulster Unionist MLA Billy Armstrong said it was hypocritical for other parties to criticise the closures when they had all voted three times in 18 months to cut the Health Service budget.

"If any politician attempts to make capital out of the Mid-Ulster hospital, just ask them why they voted, or their party voted at Stormont, in favour of health cuts," he said.

(BMcC/GK)