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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Strep A: Royal Belfast children's hospital postpones routine procedures | Strep A: Royal Belfast children's hospital postpones routine procedures |
| (7 months later) | |
| The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children has postponed all routine procedures due to the pressures caused by a rise in bacterial and viral infections. | The Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children has postponed all routine procedures due to the pressures caused by a rise in bacterial and viral infections. |
| The Belfast Trust said it was facing "significant pressures" with 214 children attending its A&E on Tuesday. | The Belfast Trust said it was facing "significant pressures" with 214 children attending its A&E on Tuesday. |
| Nine children in the UK have died with rare but severe bacterial strep A infections since September. | Nine children in the UK have died with rare but severe bacterial strep A infections since September. |
| A five-year-old from Belfast died from an illness linked to strep A on Monday. | A five-year-old from Belfast died from an illness linked to strep A on Monday. |
| Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and was treated at the hospital. | Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and was treated at the hospital. |
| The trust said every aspect of the care she received was being carefully reviewed. | The trust said every aspect of the care she received was being carefully reviewed. |
| Cases of strep A and scarlet fever are higher than usual around the UK. | Cases of strep A and scarlet fever are higher than usual around the UK. |
| Health officials in the Republic of Ireland have confirmed that a child under five has died from Strep A infection, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported. | Health officials in the Republic of Ireland have confirmed that a child under five has died from Strep A infection, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported. |
| 'Wrong time of year' | 'Wrong time of year' |
| The trust said postponing routine procedures had been a difficult decision but it would allow staff to care for children with serious or time-critical illnesses. | The trust said postponing routine procedures had been a difficult decision but it would allow staff to care for children with serious or time-critical illnesses. |
| "We appreciate how difficult this will be for families and children and we apologise for the distress this may cause," a spokesperson said. | "We appreciate how difficult this will be for families and children and we apologise for the distress this may cause," a spokesperson said. |
| On Wednesday eight procedures were postponed, while 12 went ahead as planned. | On Wednesday eight procedures were postponed, while 12 went ahead as planned. |
| The trust said it would be a similar pattern over the coming days, with some procedures going ahead if staff were available. | The trust said it would be a similar pattern over the coming days, with some procedures going ahead if staff were available. |
| Examples of procedures that might be postponed include paediatric surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) procedures. | Examples of procedures that might be postponed include paediatric surgery and Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) procedures. |
| The Belfast Trust said the emergency department at the children's hospital remained "extremely busy" on Wednesday night. | The Belfast Trust said the emergency department at the children's hospital remained "extremely busy" on Wednesday night. |
| Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and died on Monday | Stella-Lily McCorkindale became severely ill last week and died on Monday |
| Consultant paediatrician Dr Ray Nethercott said postponing procedures was a disappointing but necessary step. | Consultant paediatrician Dr Ray Nethercott said postponing procedures was a disappointing but necessary step. |
| "This is a managed step in anticipation, so they use the resources available to them in the best way they can," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme. | "This is a managed step in anticipation, so they use the resources available to them in the best way they can," he told BBC's Evening Extra programme. |
| "It's either that or wait for a further escalation. | "It's either that or wait for a further escalation. |
| "We are seeing a marked upturn in the number of viral and bacterial infections. | "We are seeing a marked upturn in the number of viral and bacterial infections. |
| "This is a relatively common infection but it's occurring at the wrong time of year - not the time of year we expect to see it." | "This is a relatively common infection but it's occurring at the wrong time of year - not the time of year we expect to see it." |
| Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know | Strep A: Why it can be dangerous and what to know |
| Antibiotics in good supply, says health secretary | Antibiotics in good supply, says health secretary |
| The Belfast Trust said parents should consult the online symptom checker if concerned about their child. | The Belfast Trust said parents should consult the online symptom checker if concerned about their child. |
| Pharmacist David McCrea has run out of liquid penicillin and says supplies are low everywhere | Pharmacist David McCrea has run out of liquid penicillin and says supplies are low everywhere |
| Pharmacies are worried about patchy supplies of antibiotics caused by the rising demand for penicillin and amoxicillin, which are used to treat cases of strep A and scarlet fever, | Pharmacies are worried about patchy supplies of antibiotics caused by the rising demand for penicillin and amoxicillin, which are used to treat cases of strep A and scarlet fever, |
| David McCrea, a pharmacist at Dundela Pharmacy in east Belfast, said he had run out of liquid penicillin. | David McCrea, a pharmacist at Dundela Pharmacy in east Belfast, said he had run out of liquid penicillin. |
| "All we can say to people who come in is to try another pharmacy or ask their GP for another antibiotic, although supplies of those are running low," he said. | "All we can say to people who come in is to try another pharmacy or ask their GP for another antibiotic, although supplies of those are running low," he said. |
| The Department of Health in Northern Ireland said work to maintain supplies was an "absolute priority". | The Department of Health in Northern Ireland said work to maintain supplies was an "absolute priority". |
| A spokesperson said UK antibiotic supplies remained good but local level supply issues for some antibiotics had arisen due to a recent acute increase in demand. | A spokesperson said UK antibiotic supplies remained good but local level supply issues for some antibiotics had arisen due to a recent acute increase in demand. |
| The department said it was working with national counterparts to maintain the flow of supplies to Northern Ireland. | The department said it was working with national counterparts to maintain the flow of supplies to Northern Ireland. |
| What is Strep A? | What is Strep A? |
| Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. | Most strep A infections are mild - a sore throat or a skin infection that can be easily treated with antibiotics. |
| But some people who catch it can get very sick. | But some people who catch it can get very sick. |
| Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. | Some people develop scarlet fever, which causes a skin rash (that feels like sandpaper) and flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature. |
| Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. | Figures show there were at least 104 cases of scarlet fever in Northern Ireland in November, up from 43 in October. |
| Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. | Very rarely, Strep A can cause something called invasive group A streptococcal infection or iGAS, which can be deadly. |
| Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. | Invasive disease happens when the bacteria get past your body's immune defences. |
| The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last high season for iGAS infection - there were four deaths in England. | The government said that during a similar period in 2017-18 - the last high season for iGAS infection - there were four deaths in England. |
| But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). | But the number of cases of invasive group A strep, or iGAS - the most serious form of infection - is 33 so far in 2022, compared to 55 in 2018 and 72 in 2019 (before the pandemic). |
| The Public Health Agency said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. | The Public Health Agency said there was no indication Northern Ireland was seeing more deaths from iGAS than in previous years. |
| What should parents do? | What should parents do? |
| As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: | As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement. Contact your GP if: |
| your child is getting worse | your child is getting worse |
| your child is feeding or eating much less than normal | your child is feeding or eating much less than normal |
| your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration | your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration |
| your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher | your baby is under three months old and has a temperature of 38°C, or is older than three months and has a temperature of 39°C or higher |
| your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty | your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty |
| your child is very tired or irritable | your child is very tired or irritable |
| Call 999 or go to A&E if: | Call 999 or go to A&E if: |
| your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs | your child is having difficulty breathing - you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs |
| there are pauses when your child breathes | there are pauses when your child breathes |
| your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue | your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue |
| your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake | your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Belfast | Belfast |
| NI Health | NI Health |
| Health | Health |
| Northern Ireland |