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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Emergency department human rights inquiry under way | Emergency department human rights inquiry under way |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The NI Human Rights Inquiry into Emergency Health Care is under way with the health minister and the chief medical officer due to give evidence. | |
| The inquiry is to investigate whether patients who encountered problems in their emergency department had their human rights violated. | The inquiry is to investigate whether patients who encountered problems in their emergency department had their human rights violated. |
| It is the first time such an inquiry has been held in Northern Ireland. | It is the first time such an inquiry has been held in Northern Ireland. |
| The inquiry will hear from Health Minister Edwin Poots, staff and members of the public. | The inquiry will hear from Health Minister Edwin Poots, staff and members of the public. |
| In her first public appearance, the newly appointed chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, Valerie Watts, is also expected to take questions. | In her first public appearance, the newly appointed chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, Valerie Watts, is also expected to take questions. |
| These more formal appearances from health officials will be mixed with real life experiences from members of the public. | These more formal appearances from health officials will be mixed with real life experiences from members of the public. |
| Staff, including nurse managers, will paint a picture of life on the wards. | |
| One patient who is due to give evidence told the BBC that her account would "be frank and honest". | One patient who is due to give evidence told the BBC that her account would "be frank and honest". |
| "I will tell it how it was and how it left me. The standard of care was appalling," she said. | "I will tell it how it was and how it left me. The standard of care was appalling," she said. |
| "The pressure on staff was enormous - I felt I was going to die." | "The pressure on staff was enormous - I felt I was going to die." |
| Unlike other inquiries, this will be held in the less formal setting of the Youth Action building at Belfast's College Square North. | Unlike other inquiries, this will be held in the less formal setting of the Youth Action building at Belfast's College Square North. |
| While it is an informal setting, according to the inquiry's staff, the less adversarial backdrop does not mean it will not be tough in seeking the truth. | While it is an informal setting, according to the inquiry's staff, the less adversarial backdrop does not mean it will not be tough in seeking the truth. |
| Its overall aim is to examine how the system of emergency health care in Northern Ireland respects, protects and fulfils human rights, focussing particularly on the right to health. | Its overall aim is to examine how the system of emergency health care in Northern Ireland respects, protects and fulfils human rights, focussing particularly on the right to health. |
| According to the chief commissioner, Les Allamby, it will assess if the system is working. | According to the chief commissioner, Les Allamby, it will assess if the system is working. |
| "Some of the people who have contacted us had a very good experience and recognise that staff are very dedicated and work very hard," he said. | "Some of the people who have contacted us had a very good experience and recognise that staff are very dedicated and work very hard," he said. |
| "Others have had a very poor experience, therefore we want to reflect properly good practice and also where things have gone wrong." | "Others have had a very poor experience, therefore we want to reflect properly good practice and also where things have gone wrong." |
| Prior to public meetings getting underway, the team has been making "visits of observation" to at least one emergency department in every health trust. | Prior to public meetings getting underway, the team has been making "visits of observation" to at least one emergency department in every health trust. |
| It also examined practices at minor injury units in Downpatrick and Bangor. | It also examined practices at minor injury units in Downpatrick and Bangor. |
| "We witnessed the patient journey from when they went through the front door to the reception area, triage until they were seen by medical staff," Mr Allamby said. | "We witnessed the patient journey from when they went through the front door to the reception area, triage until they were seen by medical staff," Mr Allamby said. |
| Describing the visits as invaluable he acknowledged seeing the good and the bad, including staff running out of blankets, to patients being seen in extremely cramped conditions. | Describing the visits as invaluable he acknowledged seeing the good and the bad, including staff running out of blankets, to patients being seen in extremely cramped conditions. |
| "This is not an ambush, but we do expect to ask questions about how the budget is being managed," he said. | "This is not an ambush, but we do expect to ask questions about how the budget is being managed," he said. |
| Public hearings will continue across Northern Ireland until the end of October. | Public hearings will continue across Northern Ireland until the end of October. |
| Among those asking questions will be a former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Professor Paul Hunt. | Among those asking questions will be a former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Professor Paul Hunt. |
| In a statement on Thursday, deputy first minister Martin McGuinness said addressing the difficulties in the health service was a priority for Sinn Féin. | |
| "Peter Robinson and I met yesterday to discuss the challenges facing the health service," he said. | |
| "We are working together to address those problems. | |
| "Any decision on budgets will of course have to be agreed at a full meeting of the Executive but health remains a priority for Sinn Féin." |