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Hospital pressures hit surgery Hospital pressures hit surgery
(about 3 hours later)
A Northern Ireland health trust has cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery at two hospitals due to increased pressure on services. Increased hospital admissions for people suffering from flu has led to some operations being cancelled.
The Northern Trust said Accident and Emergency departments had been reporting "severe pressure". Doctors say the number of people affected by flu this winter is the highest since the start of the decade.
The Northern Health Trust has cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery at two hospitals, as resources are stretched.
It said Antrim and Causeway hospitals had seen increased numbers of people, particularly the elderly, with flu-like symptoms and chest infections.It said Antrim and Causeway hospitals had seen increased numbers of people, particularly the elderly, with flu-like symptoms and chest infections.
The trust said that many of the patients had to be admitted.The trust said that many of the patients had to be admitted.
"The Northern Trust has responded with a number of measures," it said in a statement. It's a significant outbreak, probably the highest we've had for 10 years and that has created a problem for us Dr Tony StevensBelfast Health Trust class="" href="/1/hi/health/7768180.stm">The mysteries of colds and flu It has opened an extra ward at Antrim "to accept increased emergencies" and appealed for people not to turn up at Accident and Emergency with colds and minor ailments "as this will increase pressure on the service".
It's a significant outbreak, probably the highest we've had for 10 years and that has created a problem for us Dr Tony StevensBelfast Health Trust "We are cancelling all non-urgent elective surgical admissions until further notice and opening an additional ward at Antrim to accept increased emergencies."
The trust appealed to people not to turn up at Accident and Emergency with colds and minor ailments "as this will increase pressure on the service".
It said people should consult GPs or pharmacists in the first instance or the out-of-hours GP service.It said people should consult GPs or pharmacists in the first instance or the out-of-hours GP service.
"We are also requesting that visitors do not come into hospital if they currently have any illness or infection as this could put vulnerable patients at risk," the trust said."We are also requesting that visitors do not come into hospital if they currently have any illness or infection as this could put vulnerable patients at risk," the trust said.
In Belfast, the number of patients with flu symptoms has also led to some operations being cancelled.In Belfast, the number of patients with flu symptoms has also led to some operations being cancelled.
Belfast Health Trust medical director Dr Tony Stevens said they had planned for such a situation.Belfast Health Trust medical director Dr Tony Stevens said they had planned for such a situation.
"It's a significant outbreak, probably the highest we've had for 10 years and that has created a problem for us," he said."It's a significant outbreak, probably the highest we've had for 10 years and that has created a problem for us," he said.
"In Belfast we are doing maybe 250 to 300 operations a day and we have cancelled, at most, 30% of those.""In Belfast we are doing maybe 250 to 300 operations a day and we have cancelled, at most, 30% of those."
Last month, Northern Ireland's deputy chief medical officer said there was a higher than expected level of flu cases.Last month, Northern Ireland's deputy chief medical officer said there was a higher than expected level of flu cases.
Dr Elizabeth Mitchell said the number of cases in December 2008 was the "highest since the millennium".Dr Elizabeth Mitchell said the number of cases in December 2008 was the "highest since the millennium".