SDLP Health Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has said that escalating waiting times in emergency departments across the North is yet another symptom of a health service in crisis.
Mr Durkan was responding to a statement from the Health and Social Care Board who said that health care workers were working under “extreme pressure” on Thursday, to try to provide care for increasing numbers of children and older people attending and needing to be admitted.
Said the Foyle MLA: “It is nothing short of an outrage than 300 patients waited more than 12 hours in emergency departments across the North.
!This is yet another reminder, if it were ever needed, of how badly our health service needs transformation and investment.
“Our health care workers across the North are working under extreme pressure and are at breaking point.
!These escalating waiting times and the numbers of patients waiting are in the context of looming industrial action next week, where health workers are striking for pay justice.
“The inability to get people out of the hospital and into their homes is also contributing to these delays and any future Health Minister must consider care packages as part of the discharge process.
“These figures are also a result of increasing pressure in primary care and people being unable to get a timely appointment at their GPs surgery.”
Mr Durkan added: “These shocking figures must act as a wakeup call for political leaders entering another day of talks today.
“Stretch yourselves and let’s get back to work to sort this crisis out.”
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