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Hospital trolley waits 'obscene' Hospital trolley waits 'obscene'
(10 minutes later)
More resources are needed to reduce the numbers of people in NI waiting on trolleys for hospital beds, the British Medical Association has said.More resources are needed to reduce the numbers of people in NI waiting on trolleys for hospital beds, the British Medical Association has said.
More than 100 people were left on trolleys in the eastern and northern board areas over the festive period.More than 100 people were left on trolleys in the eastern and northern board areas over the festive period.
In June, the government announced a plan to end trolley waits.In June, the government announced a plan to end trolley waits.
Dr Brian Patterson, chairman of the BMA, said: "I think it is obscene that people are waiting on trolleys - these are the sickest people in hospital."Dr Brian Patterson, chairman of the BMA, said: "I think it is obscene that people are waiting on trolleys - these are the sickest people in hospital."
Mr Patterson said it was "impossible for them to have any dignity and to ease their suffering in that sort of environment".Mr Patterson said it was "impossible for them to have any dignity and to ease their suffering in that sort of environment".
He added: "There is not enough staff, there is not enough capacity, there is not enough support in communities, social services support.He added: "There is not enough staff, there is not enough capacity, there is not enough support in communities, social services support.
Many people have to wait on a trolley for a bed
"There is not enough nursing support, the beds in the hospitals are being cuts but the resource to support that cut is not being provided in the community.""There is not enough nursing support, the beds in the hospitals are being cuts but the resource to support that cut is not being provided in the community."
In June, Health Minister Paul Goggins said that by March 2008, patients would either be treated and discharged, or admitted to a hospital ward, within four hours.In June, Health Minister Paul Goggins said that by March 2008, patients would either be treated and discharged, or admitted to a hospital ward, within four hours.
He said there would be a few exceptions to this rule, for medical reasons.He said there would be a few exceptions to this rule, for medical reasons.
Health Minister Paul Goggins vowed to end trolley waits
Belfast City Hospital said there was a higher demand for emergency admission in the winter months - due to the high prevalence of respiratory and circulatory conditions coupled with patients awaiting community care arrangements before being discharged.Belfast City Hospital said there was a higher demand for emergency admission in the winter months - due to the high prevalence of respiratory and circulatory conditions coupled with patients awaiting community care arrangements before being discharged.
The hospital said that over the Christmas and New Year period, there were no patients awaiting admission.The hospital said that over the Christmas and New Year period, there were no patients awaiting admission.
However, at 0900 GMT on Wednesday 23 patients were waiting, with 18 still awaiting admission at 1600 GMT.However, at 0900 GMT on Wednesday 23 patients were waiting, with 18 still awaiting admission at 1600 GMT.
Privacy issues Health Minister Paul Goggins vowed to end trolley waits
The hospital added: "We do not believe that is acceptable for patients to have to wait for long periods in A&E for admission.The hospital added: "We do not believe that is acceptable for patients to have to wait for long periods in A&E for admission.
"However, we also do not believe that it is acceptable for us to close our doors to ill patients when all of our beds are occupied. This dilemma is particularly difficult for the staff in A&E."However, we also do not believe that it is acceptable for us to close our doors to ill patients when all of our beds are occupied. This dilemma is particularly difficult for the staff in A&E.
"Where patients are awaiting admission in A&E, they are treated and cared for by professional staff; they are nursed on proper beds and not on trolleys."Where patients are awaiting admission in A&E, they are treated and cared for by professional staff; they are nursed on proper beds and not on trolleys.
"We realise that there are issues of privacy and access, and that as a result care under these circumstances is not of the standard we would wish for these patients.""We realise that there are issues of privacy and access, and that as a result care under these circumstances is not of the standard we would wish for these patients."
BBC NI health correspondent Dot Kirby said trolley waits were a "particularly difficult problem" for the health service to tackle.BBC NI health correspondent Dot Kirby said trolley waits were a "particularly difficult problem" for the health service to tackle.
"The problem is outside of Accident and Emergency," she said."The problem is outside of Accident and Emergency," she said.
"The problem is the management of people; whether people need to go to hospital and whether whenever they need to go home there is a package available for them to enable them to be discharged to free the bed for somebody waiting down in A&E.""The problem is the management of people; whether people need to go to hospital and whether whenever they need to go home there is a package available for them to enable them to be discharged to free the bed for somebody waiting down in A&E."