Patsy McGlone 29th September 2009

MCGLONE: FOUR PATIENTS ON TROLLEYS AT MID ULSTER HOSPITAL

SDLP Mid Ulster MLA Patsy McGlone has said four patients waiting on trolleys at Mid Ulster Hospital this week show that recent proposals approved by the Health Minister are clearly not workable.

Mr McGlone said the four patients had to stay on trolleys as there were no beds at Causeway or Antrim hospitals.

He said: “This puts serious scrutiny on the minister last week approving proposals which affect the Mid Ulster hospital and Whiteabbey hospitals, where acute inpatient surgery patients are to be moved to the Causeway and Antrim hospitals to catch the overspill from the Mid Ulster by November.

“Unfortunately, within a week we have four patients waiting on trolleys at the Mid Ulster because there are no beds at Antrim or Causeway to take them. In fact, neither hospital has enough beds to catch any overspill from the Mid Ulster as a result of downgrading.

“I acknowledge that the Health Minister has to make efficiency savings of three per cent, however, stripping frontline services such as beds is no way to achieve that target.

“Last week Michael McGimpsey said he would approve these proposals on the condition that the Trust ensures that the “quality of services, for their patients and clients, is maintained or improved” and I fail to see this can be seen as anything but a further downgrading of service.”

ENDS