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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| A&E 'crisis' to be raised at Northern Ireland Assembly | A&E 'crisis' to be raised at Northern Ireland Assembly |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Problems in hospital A&E units are to be raised at the Assembly by the SDLP later on Tuesday, after the party said there was a "deepening crisis". | |
| Last week, a "major incident" was declared at Belfast's biggest A&E unit due to a large backlog of patients. | Last week, a "major incident" was declared at Belfast's biggest A&E unit due to a large backlog of patients. |
| The SDLP said weekend closures of two other A&E units had made matters worse. | The SDLP said weekend closures of two other A&E units had made matters worse. |
| It has submitted an urgent question to the health minister and has secured a debate on the restoration of full A&E hours at Downe Hospital in County Down. | It has submitted an urgent question to the health minister and has secured a debate on the restoration of full A&E hours at Downe Hospital in County Down. |
| Downe Hospital's emergency unit, and that of Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn, County Antrim, are now closed at weekends due to a shortage of staff. | Downe Hospital's emergency unit, and that of Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn, County Antrim, are now closed at weekends due to a shortage of staff. |
| The decision was taken before Christmas and the first weekend closures took place on Saturday 4 January. | The decision was taken before Christmas and the first weekend closures took place on Saturday 4 January. |
| 'One-off' | 'One-off' |
| Four days later, Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) declared a major incident, calling in dozens of extra staff to help clear a backlog of patients waiting for A&E treatment. | Four days later, Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) declared a major incident, calling in dozens of extra staff to help clear a backlog of patients waiting for A&E treatment. |
| Health Minister Edwin Poots said the incident was a "one-off" and had arisen due to a "massive number" of hospital admissions between Monday and Wednesday. | Health Minister Edwin Poots said the incident was a "one-off" and had arisen due to a "massive number" of hospital admissions between Monday and Wednesday. |
| He said staff had coped and turned around what was "a very bad situation" within three hours. | He said staff had coped and turned around what was "a very bad situation" within three hours. |
| But the SDLP's health spokesperson, Fearghal McKinney, said cutbacks at Downe and Lagan Valley were putting pressure on other full-time emergency departments. | But the SDLP's health spokesperson, Fearghal McKinney, said cutbacks at Downe and Lagan Valley were putting pressure on other full-time emergency departments. |
| 'Crippling pressures' | 'Crippling pressures' |
| He said the weekend closures "contributed significantly to the surge in demand" at the RVH and Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh. | He said the weekend closures "contributed significantly to the surge in demand" at the RVH and Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh. |
| The SDLP MLA said Mr Poots "must wake up to the crippling pressures faced by A&E departments and put in place a strategy". | The SDLP MLA said Mr Poots "must wake up to the crippling pressures faced by A&E departments and put in place a strategy". |
| "The deepening crisis over A&E provision is alarming and must be addressed by the minister as a matter of urgency," he said. | "The deepening crisis over A&E provision is alarming and must be addressed by the minister as a matter of urgency," he said. |
| "Doctors and nursing staff should never have to face a night like they did last Wednesday at the Royal Victoria Hospital." | "Doctors and nursing staff should never have to face a night like they did last Wednesday at the Royal Victoria Hospital." |
| The South Belfast MLA said "patients, staff and the public demand and deserve answers". | The South Belfast MLA said "patients, staff and the public demand and deserve answers". |
| "That is why I have put forward an urgent oral question to the Health Minister which I hope he will answer on Monday. My party colleague Seán Rogers has also secured an assembly debate on the need to restore full A&E services at the Downe Hospital," he added. | "That is why I have put forward an urgent oral question to the Health Minister which I hope he will answer on Monday. My party colleague Seán Rogers has also secured an assembly debate on the need to restore full A&E services at the Downe Hospital," he added. |