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| NI hospital pressures 'like never before', says trust director | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A medical director at a health trust has said he has never before seen the kind of pressures that Northern Ireland's hospitals are facing. | A medical director at a health trust has said he has never before seen the kind of pressures that Northern Ireland's hospitals are facing. |
| All of Northern Ireland's five trusts have cancelled some non-urgent elective surgeries. | All of Northern Ireland's five trusts have cancelled some non-urgent elective surgeries. |
| It is one of the measures put in place in order to tackle demands on the emergency system. | It is one of the measures put in place in order to tackle demands on the emergency system. |
| The Belfast Health Trust has cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery up to and including 11 January. | The Belfast Health Trust has cancelled all non-urgent elective surgery up to and including 11 January. |
| Ken Lowry, the medical director at the Northern Trust, said: "We do not set out to disturb peoples plans. | Ken Lowry, the medical director at the Northern Trust, said: "We do not set out to disturb peoples plans. |
| "Unfortunately no one saw the level of activity across Northern Ireland coming to the extent it has over the past three or four days. I don't think you could blame anyone for that. | "Unfortunately no one saw the level of activity across Northern Ireland coming to the extent it has over the past three or four days. I don't think you could blame anyone for that. |
| "We had planned for the normal anticipated upturn that happens every year but what we are seeing here is something we have never seen before." | "We had planned for the normal anticipated upturn that happens every year but what we are seeing here is something we have never seen before." |
| 'Under pressure' | 'Under pressure' |
| Medical director of the Western Health Trust Dr Alan McKinney said staff across Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry have been under extra pressure. | |
| Eighteen people were waiting for beds on trolleys there on Tuesday night. | Eighteen people were waiting for beds on trolleys there on Tuesday night. |
| "The winter pressure of new admissions does cause problems but the flow of patients coming in is faster than those going out. | "The winter pressure of new admissions does cause problems but the flow of patients coming in is faster than those going out. |
| "There is pressure on staff in the accident and emergency department but also in other medical wards. | "There is pressure on staff in the accident and emergency department but also in other medical wards. |
| "We had to delay patients who need non-urgent procedures and open our day case spaces to deal with the overflow. | "We had to delay patients who need non-urgent procedures and open our day case spaces to deal with the overflow. |
| "Wards have also been taking extra patients and we have also been putting more patients in rehab spaces. | "Wards have also been taking extra patients and we have also been putting more patients in rehab spaces. |
| "We are also trying to get packages of care in the community in place. | "We are also trying to get packages of care in the community in place. |
| "Even with those contingencies in place, we are still under pressure." | "Even with those contingencies in place, we are still under pressure." |
| Cutbacks | Cutbacks |
| A Derry woman, who has been in Altnagelvin Hospital since Sunday, told the BBC that "management is running around trying to deal with the situation". | A Derry woman, who has been in Altnagelvin Hospital since Sunday, told the BBC that "management is running around trying to deal with the situation". |
| "I came in with severe abdominal pains on Sunday. I eventually was looked at after waiting a couple of hours. | "I came in with severe abdominal pains on Sunday. I eventually was looked at after waiting a couple of hours. |
| "The staff were more than good but were constantly apologising about having no beds. | "The staff were more than good but were constantly apologising about having no beds. |
| "They put me in the day case unit and that's where I'm still at. They said it was because of the lack of beds. | |
| "Staff are being pulled from ward to ward. Bed managers are constantly walking about. It's very evident there is a problem." | "Staff are being pulled from ward to ward. Bed managers are constantly walking about. It's very evident there is a problem." |
| Garret Martin, deputy director of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Our members are facing a lot of pressure. | Garret Martin, deputy director of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Our members are facing a lot of pressure. |
| "You do see an increase in waiting times and blockages in the system at this time of the year. This adds to the overall pressures. | "You do see an increase in waiting times and blockages in the system at this time of the year. This adds to the overall pressures. |
| "There are issues that are compounded by the financial situation. Discharges are being delayed. | "There are issues that are compounded by the financial situation. Discharges are being delayed. |
| "Frontline staff are doing the best they can but there has to be a better way." | "Frontline staff are doing the best they can but there has to be a better way." |