Worse To Come As Antrim Patients Wait

Last week's decision to close casualty facilities in two hospitals has again been slammed.

As news emerged that 18 people were waiting on trolleys for treatment at Antrim Area Hospital Casualty Department on Sunday, a politician has spoken out.

Alderman Nigel Hamilton said: "The decision to close A&E services and Cardiology at Whiteabbey and downgrading the former to Minor Injuries Unit is high handed.

"The manner of the announcement and the inadequate consultation has left many patients fearing for the vital services which on many occasions saved lives and provided an essential service to residents in Newtownabbey and as far away as Islandmagee," explained the DUP man.

Slamming the Northern Health Trust, the councillor and former member of the Board's Health and Social Services Council patient/client consumer watchdog continued: "All indications from the Antrim Hospital over the last few days suggest that it is woefully incapable of taking on the extra burden which is expected of it from the proposed date May 24th.

"The Trust and its decision makers are looking at budgets and giving little to no regard to the serious implications of this being pushed It appears the only people unaware of the serious implications for patients health and the services ability to deliver are the Medical Director at the Trust and those who share his optimism."

Last week, it was announced that accident and emergency departments at Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster would be closed on May 24.

The Northern Health Trust said it expected that Antrim Hospital would be able to cope with the extra patients who would have used those facilities.

However, the BBC has reported today that some patients had been waiting for up to 12 hours for a bed in Antrim this weekend.

At one stage, staff at the Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt were even contacted to see if they would be able to assist, the BBC claimed.

SDLP Mid-Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone also said reports of long trolley waits in Antrim Area Hospital are causing deep concern to many people in his constituency as well.

"According to reports there were 18 people waiting on trolleys on Sunday and some of them could not get into a bed for 12 hours.

"In fact, staff were telling people that there were no emergency beds anywhere in the Northern Trust area.

"This is the same Trust that was telling us a couple of days ago that Antrim could cope with the closure of facilities at Magherafelt and Whiteabbey," he commented.

"We need to get some honesty and openness into this issue.

"Staff at three different hospitals are saying there is a problem, patients in Antrim yesterday could see there is a problem, but the Trust and the Health Minister are telling us there is no problem."

(BMcC/GK)