THE crisis at Altnagelvin Hospital has deepened – with non urgent operations cancelled.
The emergency department at the Derry hospital has had its busiest few days in almost a year.
Patients say they have been left gobsmacked by the hard work of nurses, doctors and auxiliary staff in the past few days as they struggle to cope with the large number of patients at the hospital.
A spokesperson for the Western Health and Social Care Trust (Western Trust) said: “This time of the year is usually an extremely busy time for Emergency Departments across Northern Ireland due to Winter pressures. This was the case at both Altnagelvin and South West Acute Hospitals in recent days.
“We would like to commend all our medical, nursing and support staff who are working tirelessly to care for patients who attend our hospitals. We would encourage the public to use Emergency Departments wisely and only attend if absolutely necessary.
“The Health and Social Care Board in partnership with the local Health Trusts recently launched its Choose Well campaign which was aimed at ensuring people accessed healthcare services that are most appropriate to their particular needs.
“The Choose Well campaign enables our emergency services to focus on the people who are the most sick and injured this Winter. It’s about making it clear to the public that emergency and 999 services are for life threatening and serious conditions. Many minor healthcare issues can be dealt with at home or by seeking the advice of a pharmacist or if necessary consult with your local GP within working hours or Western Urgent Care after 6pm. There are a range of healthcare services available to help you find the right expert care to meet your needs. Picking the service most appropriate to your symptoms means you get the right treatment in the right place. The options available for accessing services are highlighted on the Trust’s website or via the following link http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/choosewell
“Before you dial 999 or go to your local Emergency Department, think about your options. We don’t want to discourage those with a genuine medical emergency from calling 999, but simply ask that you ‘Choose Well’ and consider the range of other more appropriate services available.”
