'Major Incident' Declared At Hospital

A "major incident" was declared at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital on Wednesday night.

The decision was taken after staff were placed under "extreme pressure" by the number of people attending the hospital's accident and emergency department.

More than 40 people were waiting on trolleys at one stage and extra staff had to be called in. Additional beds were also opened to try and reduce the pressurised conditions.

Of the patients that attended, some trolleys from the emergency department were moved to the x-ray area, while others were placed in the recovery area and fracture clinic. It is understood the day procedure unit was also re-opened.

In a statement, the Belfast Trust said the situation was finally brought under control just before midnight.

A spokesperson for the Belfast Health Trust said: "Belfast Trust's emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital experienced extreme pressures and as a result we declared it a major incident.

"This is a mechanism we use to call in extra staff at short notice to deal with particularly difficult situations.

"Our staff dealt professionally and quickly with a difficult situation and within a few hours had rectified the situation."

This is not the first time the region's A&E Departments have come under strain recently, and NIPSA has now called on the NI Assembly and Health Minister to "urgently" review A&E provisions.

Deputy General Secretary for the trade union, Alison Millar, said: "It is totally unacceptable that yet again the RVH A&E services are in the headlines because of unacceptable trolley waits.

"Yesterday a 'major incident' was declared by the Belfast Trust due to the large backlog of patients awaiting treatment. While the staff responded and were congratulated by the Trust, the Trust and the Minister need to recognise that the resources available do not meet the need."

She continued: "The Trust is relying on the goodwill of staff who are stressed, overworked and are working under extreme pressure. Staff's goodwill is being taken for granted. The Trust and the Minister need to take corporate responsibility for the provision of A&E services both in the Belfast Trust and across Northern Ireland."

The incident comes just days after the A&E Departments at Downe Hospital in Downpatrick and Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn reduced their operational house. The departments are now closed at the weekends, only seeing patients between the hours of 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday. In November 2011, Belfast City Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit closed, meaning the RVH became the main hub of emergency care in Belfast.

(JP)