Dallat calls for more resources for Causeway A & E

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has described an ‘escalation plan’ to deal with a crisis at the Causeway Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Department at the weekend as hopelessly inadequate.

 Mr Dallat said:

 “I have no doubt the A and E Department at the Causeway Hospital experienced unprecedented pressures in recent days leading to patients lying on trolleys and in pain for unacceptable periods of time.

 “The staff coping in these pressurised conditions deserve our admiration and support. Nevertheless it is unacceptable that the service was reportedly near to breaking point at least for those lying on the trolleys two to a bay.

 “These reports do not reflect accurately the very high standards of care in the hospital generally and certainly underline the sheer madness of transferring any element of A and E to Antrim Hospital which is also experiencing pressures on A and E.

 “I have asked the Northern Health Trust for a full report on why the service experienced difficulties which it quite clearly failed to cope with. I have also arranged a meeting with the Chief Executive which will take place later in the month.”

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Health Service must meet the needs of the Community

Ballycastle SDLP Councillor Dónal Cunningham has stressed the need for those involved in the implementation of the recently published Review of Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland (Transforming Your Care, December 2011) to shape a health service that meets the needs of the community.
Representatives form the Northern Health and Social Care Trust and the Local Commissioning Group are due to meet with Moyle District Council on Monday 21st May.
The Compton Report(Transforming Your Care, December 2011) sets out the future for health and social care services as it faces a number of significant challenges over the next four years and beyond. It examines the quality and accessibility of health services, how needs are currently being met, and brings forward recommendations for the future shape of services along with a supporting implementation plan. Moyle Council will fight hard to protect and improve all of our services, in particular the Causeway Hospital A&E.
Councillor Cunningham is anxious to hear the views and concerns of the community, so that all parts of the health and social care system meet the needs of the community and respond to the considerable challenges ahead.

Ballycastle needs the Causeway Hospital

Ballycastle SDLP Councillor Dónal Cunningham has expressed his concern that the imminent Health Review to be conducted by a Local Commissioning Group may consider the downgrading of Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.
“I am totally opposed to such a measure as this will have a hugely detrimental impact on healthcare provision for people in Ballycastle and the surrounding rural areas.
“It is vital that these A&E services are maintained due to the large geographical spread of people in the Trust area”
“The Causeway in my view meets the three Compton Report criteria of sustainability, resilience in clinical terms and accessibility to the population.”
“Stripping healthcare services at Causeway will diminish the level of care provided to people in the Ballycastle area and the local communities must fight tooth and nail to ensure that this doesn’t become a reality. The SDLP will be supporting the motion before the Council and seeking early engagement with the Local Commissioning Group.”