Changes Due For Antrim Area Hospital After Criticisms

Improvements are due to be put in place at Antrim Area hospital after two independent reports criticised its working practices.

The Northern Health Trust has said it accepts the recommendations of the reports, which were commissioned by Health Minister Edwin Poots.

The main problem was high waiting times for patients at the hospital, but the reports, by English GP Ian Rutter and Mary Hinds from the Health and Social Care Board, also criticised a "lack of dignity" in care and said systems were too bureaucratic.

Ms Hinds found that in January this year, nearly 500 patients waited more than 12 hours at A&E.

The reports were leaked this week.

Dr Rutter's report said that the Antrim Area Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department was "understaffed and under strain" so that although staff were "highly dedicated", patients were enduring "lengthy delays" which had the potential to harm them.

Among a list of 16 recommendations, Dr Rutter, who spent time observing the A&E department, said the Health Trust should get monthly updates on the situation at the hospital.

Ms Hinds's report, based on consultation with staff members, found morale was low at the hospital because staff were working under too many targets.

She wrote: "While targets are extremely important they shouldn't be achieved at the detriment to patient care".

One of her 34 recommendations was that ICT systems be brought in to reduce paperwork.

On the Northern Health Trust's website, a statement said it had "already begun to implement the recommendations".

(NE)