McGlone: Proposed New Antrim Emergency Department ‘Two Years Too Late’

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has given a cautious welcome to the unveiling of the proposed design of the new Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital. The department is not due to be open until Spring 2013.

Mr McGlone said, “The proposed new Emergency Department at Antrim Area Hospital will certainly be a welcome improvement to the facilities currently available. It ticks all the boxes required of a modern state-of-the-art emergency department.

“But it is at least two years too late.

“This is the sort of investment at Antrim that the Trust and the Minister assured everyone would be made before Accident and Emergency units at other hospitals, like the Mid Ulster at Magherafelt, were closed.

“Instead it has taken a very public crisis to develop at Antrim before the required investment is to be made.

“What this investment doesn’t do is address the current situation.

“The pressure on frontline staff at Antrim Area Hospital will not be alleviated now by the proposed opening of a new Emergency Department a year down the line.

“The failings of senior management revealed in the recent reports on the problems at Antrim will not be resolved by this either.

“There remain very serious concerns about the situation that was allowed to develop at Antrim. Those concerns have not been addressed by this PR exercise.

“I will continue to press the Minister to state clearly what action he is taking to address the negative impact on public confidence in our health service the situation at Antrim has had.”


ENDS