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NI health minister sees 'merit' in A&E fees for drunk patients | NI health minister sees 'merit' in A&E fees for drunk patients |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Northern Ireland's health minister has said he can see merit in the idea of charging fees to patients who end up in A&E as a result of alcohol or drugs. | Northern Ireland's health minister has said he can see merit in the idea of charging fees to patients who end up in A&E as a result of alcohol or drugs. |
Edwin Poots has recently provided extra resources to try to tackle long waiting times in emergency departments. | Edwin Poots has recently provided extra resources to try to tackle long waiting times in emergency departments. |
However, staff say they are still under severe pressure on a regular basis. | However, staff say they are still under severe pressure on a regular basis. |
Between April and June, targets to treat patients within 12 hours were missed more than 700 times in Northern Ireland, according to the latest data. | Between April and June, targets to treat patients within 12 hours were missed more than 700 times in Northern Ireland, according to the latest data. |
The majority of those breaches were at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast and Antrim Area Hospital. | The majority of those breaches were at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast and Antrim Area Hospital. |
'Abused' | 'Abused' |
Senior health service staff have in the past appealed for people to only go to A&E units if they are genuinely in need of emergency care. | Senior health service staff have in the past appealed for people to only go to A&E units if they are genuinely in need of emergency care. |
And the health minister is concerned about the number of patients who require treatment because of their own irresponsible behaviour. | And the health minister is concerned about the number of patients who require treatment because of their own irresponsible behaviour. |
"The United Kingdom has a great principle of health care, free at the point of need to all who need it irrespective of their ability to pay for it," said Mr Poots. | "The United Kingdom has a great principle of health care, free at the point of need to all who need it irrespective of their ability to pay for it," said Mr Poots. |
"I think it is a wonderful principle but I think on occasions it is abused and we sometimes need to look at how we can make sure that abuse doesn't take place." | "I think it is a wonderful principle but I think on occasions it is abused and we sometimes need to look at how we can make sure that abuse doesn't take place." |
The delays in some patients receiving emergency care has had severe consequences. | The delays in some patients receiving emergency care has had severe consequences. |
In January, a major incident was declared at the Royal Victoria Hospital because of the sheer number of people waiting on trolleys. | In January, a major incident was declared at the Royal Victoria Hospital because of the sheer number of people waiting on trolleys. |
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has acknowledged that delays may have contributed to the deaths of five patients. | The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has acknowledged that delays may have contributed to the deaths of five patients. |
Backlogs | Backlogs |
Colette MacRuagain's 81-year-old mother was one of those who died at the RVH after she was admitted with a head injury. | Colette MacRuagain's 81-year-old mother was one of those who died at the RVH after she was admitted with a head injury. |
"Even when she was seen, it was hours after that before she was scanned and then there were numerous issues," Ms MacRuagain said. | "Even when she was seen, it was hours after that before she was scanned and then there were numerous issues," Ms MacRuagain said. |
"We often think that maybe if we had made more of a noise in A&E maybe things would have been different." | "We often think that maybe if we had made more of a noise in A&E maybe things would have been different." |
Efforts have been made at the RVH to try to tackle backlogs, which can build during the weekends and cause delays for days afterwards. | Efforts have been made at the RVH to try to tackle backlogs, which can build during the weekends and cause delays for days afterwards. |
New ways of working have been introduced to ensure patients are moved more quickly between hospital departments and extra nurses have been employed. | New ways of working have been introduced to ensure patients are moved more quickly between hospital departments and extra nurses have been employed. |
Limited charging | Limited charging |
However, problems remain and budgets throughout the NHS are already stretched. | However, problems remain and budgets throughout the NHS are already stretched. |
With concerns about funding within the health service, some people have called for a debate about limited charging, including the former Labour health minister Lord Warner. | With concerns about funding within the health service, some people have called for a debate about limited charging, including the former Labour health minister Lord Warner. |
Now, Northern Ireland's health minister has suggested the possibility of people paying for emergency care if alcohol or drugs contributed to their need for hospital treatment. | Now, Northern Ireland's health minister has suggested the possibility of people paying for emergency care if alcohol or drugs contributed to their need for hospital treatment. |
"The principle of it has merit," said Mr Poots. | "The principle of it has merit," said Mr Poots. |
"The implementation of it is more challenging. | "The implementation of it is more challenging. |
"We need to ensure that people who need medical care are not put off receiving that medical care." | "We need to ensure that people who need medical care are not put off receiving that medical care." |
Roisin Devlin of the Royal College of Nursing said such a scheme would be unfeasible. | Roisin Devlin of the Royal College of Nursing said such a scheme would be unfeasible. |
"The NHS has a duty to care for all, and the principle is that it's free at the point of care," she said. | "The NHS has a duty to care for all, and the principle is that it's free at the point of care," she said. |
"My concern would be where the line would be drawn and who would decide which patients should be charged. It's not something that emergency nurses would be keen to do." | "My concern would be where the line would be drawn and who would decide which patients should be charged. It's not something that emergency nurses would be keen to do." |
A union representative said it was an example of the Stormont health minister's "desire to introduce charging for health care". | |
"This is political dogma and has nothing to do with the delivery of safe, high quality universal health care," said Patricia McKeown of Unison. |