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Royal Victoria Hospital: 40 extra nurses to be appointed Royal Victoria Hospital: 40 extra nurses to be appointed
(35 minutes later)
Forty extra nurses are to be appointed after a review of staffing levels at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.Forty extra nurses are to be appointed after a review of staffing levels at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The additional jobs will be in the accident and emergency (A&E) department and the Acute Medical Unit (AMU).The additional jobs will be in the accident and emergency (A&E) department and the Acute Medical Unit (AMU).
Health Minister Edwin Poots announced the extra posts as he updated the assembly on the progress of a review into A&E care at the hospital.Health Minister Edwin Poots announced the extra posts as he updated the assembly on the progress of a review into A&E care at the hospital.
The review was ordered after a major incident was declared at the RVH's A&E department in January.The review was ordered after a major incident was declared at the RVH's A&E department in January.
At one stage during the incident 42 people were waiting on trolleys, and staff described the situation as "horrendous".At one stage during the incident 42 people were waiting on trolleys, and staff described the situation as "horrendous".
An investigation is also under way into six deaths at the hospital's emergency department in which delays in treating the patients may have been a contributory factor in their deaths.An investigation is also under way into six deaths at the hospital's emergency department in which delays in treating the patients may have been a contributory factor in their deaths.
The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) review is due to report in April.The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) review is due to report in April.
'Confidence''Confidence'
It is also working on a wider review of accident and emergency care in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland.It is also working on a wider review of accident and emergency care in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland.
Mr Poots said the new nursing jobs - 15 in A&E and 25 in AMU - is one of a number of steps the Belfast Trust has already taken to improve services ahead of the report.Mr Poots said the new nursing jobs - 15 in A&E and 25 in AMU - is one of a number of steps the Belfast Trust has already taken to improve services ahead of the report.
He said: "It is important that the public is aware of this work and action already taken so that it can have confidence in the services being provided in our emergency departments and across health and social services more generally." In a written statement he said: "It is important that the public is aware of this work and action already taken so that it can have confidence in the services being provided in our emergency departments and across health and social services more generally."
Mr Poots said there were "no easy solutions" to the problems, and added: "I am under no illusion that it will take time to make a difference.Mr Poots said there were "no easy solutions" to the problems, and added: "I am under no illusion that it will take time to make a difference.
"I don't expect change to happen overnight - but I do expect progress to be made."I don't expect change to happen overnight - but I do expect progress to be made.
"It is clear that there has been progress to an extent but much more needs to be done and we need to maintain the momentum that has been built.""It is clear that there has been progress to an extent but much more needs to be done and we need to maintain the momentum that has been built."
'Improvement''Improvement'
He also claimed a dramatic reduction in the number of patients across Northern Ireland who have waited more than 12 hours for treatment.He also claimed a dramatic reduction in the number of patients across Northern Ireland who have waited more than 12 hours for treatment.
"Whilst clearly there remains much to be done, we have seen improvement in the number of 12-hour breaches," he said."Whilst clearly there remains much to be done, we have seen improvement in the number of 12-hour breaches," he said.
"Regionally there has been a significant reduction in the number of patients who have waited longer than 12 hours - from September 2013 to January 2014, 558 patients waited longer than 12 hours compared to 2,248 during the same period last year, a reduction of 75%.""Regionally there has been a significant reduction in the number of patients who have waited longer than 12 hours - from September 2013 to January 2014, 558 patients waited longer than 12 hours compared to 2,248 during the same period last year, a reduction of 75%."
Mr Poots also told the assembly that a major summit on emergency medicine will be held in Northern Ireland on 9 April.Mr Poots also told the assembly that a major summit on emergency medicine will be held in Northern Ireland on 9 April.
The College of Emergency Medicine conference "will bring together policymakers, key leaders in health and social care, as well as staff who work on the front line and senior colleagues from across the UK to take a whole system look at our unscheduled care systems".The College of Emergency Medicine conference "will bring together policymakers, key leaders in health and social care, as well as staff who work on the front line and senior colleagues from across the UK to take a whole system look at our unscheduled care systems".