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26/06/2015
A&E Waiting Times Continue To Deteriorate
Only 73.8% of people attending Accident & Emergency departments were treated and discharged, or admitted within 4 hours of their arrival during 2014/15 despite the target being 95%, according to the latest A&E waiting times.
Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, said last year's performance was a further deterioration on the year before and demonstrates that the crisis facing hospitals is continuing to deepen.
She said: "This gridlock is not only bad for our hospitals and staff, but it’s bad for the health of patients. Delays in receiving treatment can often lead to conditions worsening and I am often told by medical practioners that hospitals are not always a safe place for patients if they do not absolutely need to be there.
"It is essential that our A&E departments are operating efficiently, seeing people on time and avoiding unnecessary delays. When A&Es are full or gridlocked it instantly has a knock-on impact on other hospital admissions and ambulance turn-around times.
"Unless the Health Minister is prepared to accept the scale of the problem and recognise that the numbers of emergency medicine specialist staff working in A&E departments remains insufficient, the problem will remain. It is clear that a revised workforce planning structure is required to ensure that every acute hospital maintains safe and sustainable staffing levels."
(CD)
Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, said last year's performance was a further deterioration on the year before and demonstrates that the crisis facing hospitals is continuing to deepen.
She said: "This gridlock is not only bad for our hospitals and staff, but it’s bad for the health of patients. Delays in receiving treatment can often lead to conditions worsening and I am often told by medical practioners that hospitals are not always a safe place for patients if they do not absolutely need to be there.
"It is essential that our A&E departments are operating efficiently, seeing people on time and avoiding unnecessary delays. When A&Es are full or gridlocked it instantly has a knock-on impact on other hospital admissions and ambulance turn-around times.
"Unless the Health Minister is prepared to accept the scale of the problem and recognise that the numbers of emergency medicine specialist staff working in A&E departments remains insufficient, the problem will remain. It is clear that a revised workforce planning structure is required to ensure that every acute hospital maintains safe and sustainable staffing levels."
(CD)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A cloudy day with a little light rain or drizzle at times, but some spells of drier weather too. The north coast may become somewhat brighter later this afternoon. Maximum temperature 11 °C.Tonight:Cloudy and patchy light rain will slowly clear away this evening. Then the rest of the night will be dry with broken cloud. Westerly winds freshening in the early hours. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
