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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lagan Valley and Downe Hospital A&E opening hours review | Lagan Valley and Downe Hospital A&E opening hours review |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Staff shortages have led to a review of A&E unit opening hours at two hospitals in County Down, the BBC understands. | Staff shortages have led to a review of A&E unit opening hours at two hospitals in County Down, the BBC understands. |
| The Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe Hospital's A&E times are being reviewed by the South Eastern Health Trust, which runs both hospitals. | The Lagan Valley Hospital and Downe Hospital's A&E times are being reviewed by the South Eastern Health Trust, which runs both hospitals. |
| A spokesperson for the trust said a shortage of doctors is making the hospitals' A&E units unsustainable. | A spokesperson for the trust said a shortage of doctors is making the hospitals' A&E units unsustainable. |
| At present, both units operate seven days a week, but it is understood the trust is considering weekend closures. | At present, both units operate seven days a week, but it is understood the trust is considering weekend closures. |
| 'Critical shortage' | 'Critical shortage' |
| In recent years there has been a question mark over the future of each unit as the South Eastern Health Trust has been unable to hire enough locum doctors. | In recent years there has been a question mark over the future of each unit as the South Eastern Health Trust has been unable to hire enough locum doctors. |
| Currently, both A&E units are open every day but they close each evening at about 22:00 GMT. | |
| The BBC understands that health trust executives attempted to meet the health minister on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of closing the units at the weekend. | The BBC understands that health trust executives attempted to meet the health minister on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of closing the units at the weekend. |
| That would mean more people arriving at an already busy A&E unit at the Ulster Hospital, on the outskirts of east Belfast. | That would mean more people arriving at an already busy A&E unit at the Ulster Hospital, on the outskirts of east Belfast. |
| In a statement, a spokesperson for the trust said it was "experiencing a critical shortage of medical staff" in both the Downe and Lagan Valley emergency departments. | In a statement, a spokesperson for the trust said it was "experiencing a critical shortage of medical staff" in both the Downe and Lagan Valley emergency departments. |
| "This has been a critical position for a number of months and there is little prospect of a resolution. In fact, the situation has deteriorated over recent weeks," the statement added. | "This has been a critical position for a number of months and there is little prospect of a resolution. In fact, the situation has deteriorated over recent weeks," the statement added. |
| "The trust will be reviewing a range of options for continued provision of emergency care services at both sites with the objective of maintaining both emergency departments, albeit with reduced opening hours." | "The trust will be reviewing a range of options for continued provision of emergency care services at both sites with the objective of maintaining both emergency departments, albeit with reduced opening hours." |
| The statement added that a decision on weekend closure is likely to be taken this week. | The statement added that a decision on weekend closure is likely to be taken this week. |