Figures released by the DHSSPS Show:
· Despite fewer attendance at Acute A&E’s within the Northern Trust more patients waited over 12 hours between 2010 & 2011, increase of 455 patients.
· This quarter also seen a milder winter than 2010.
· Patients who waited over 12 hours spent at least the equivalent of 405 days (over a year in terms of time) waiting in Antrim A&E between Oct-Dec 2011
· Patients who waitned over 12 hours for treatment in Acute A&E in the Northern trust spent at least the equivalent of 554 days waiting to be treated between Oct-Dec 2011
Concerns for the future:
· The pending Compton review will remove more acute services from the Northern Trust.
· The extension for Antrim A&E will only be able to serve in the region of 70,000 patients; this will still not be big enough to serve its catchment area, even more so if services at the Causeway Hospital are reduced.
· the extra 24 beds planned are technically already full
· The performance of the ambulance service and turn over times at Antrim A&E are still going to be long
Despite the Health Minister know of the concerns in a meeting with Save The Mid on the 24th Jan 2012 he is still unwilling to look at the option of re-opening acute services at the Mid Ulster Hospital site, even as a interim measure to combat waiting times and help protect patients dignity, these ever failing performance are the worst recorded in history and despite claims that previous health ministers made mistakes Mr Poots is in charge now and these performance are under his watch.
Mid Ulster Hospital was closed based on health and safety concerns, how long will it take for Antrim to be recognised as an unsafe environment?