SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that Emergency Care statistics published by the Department of Health show that waiting times have spiralled out of control over the last five years and demand urgent attention.
The statistics showed that the number of patients waiting longer than 12 hours in emergency departments here has soared by almost 700% in the past five years.
Said the Foyle MLA: “We live in a political environment where a lot of things are referred to as a crisis.
“And while I’m not detracting from the very serious pressures on many public services, the figures published today show that emergency care in Northern Ireland needs the most urgent political and clinical attention.
“We have more people attending Emergency Departments and they’re waiting longer and longer for treatment.
“Waiting targets may as well not exist at the minute, the pressures on the system are so severe that they’re virtually unachievable.
“As political leaders, how can we look any of the 25,326 people who had to wait over 12 hours in an emergency department in the eye and tell them it is acceptable? How can we defend the continued absence of government?
“I am ashamed of this situation. But it would be absolutely shameless to let the political vacuum continue.
“The Health Service Transformation plan needs strong strategic political leadership.
“Health Service staff are working every hour, burning themselves out and still it’s not enough. We can’t let that continue.”
The Department of Health is to convene a health service summit will be held next Tuesday as part of its ongoing review of urgent and emergency care.
It will bring together up to 160 clinicians, patients and representatives from organisations and will help shape a public consultation later this year on a new model of care here.
