Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has visited Altnagelvin Hospital to see first-hand how the recent establishment of the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) is reducing pressure in the Emergency Department (ED) and contributing to a hugely positive impact for patients requiring treatment and care for minor ailments.
The Minister toured the MIU to see some of the alternatives the staff have developed to reduce pressures in the Emergency Department.
The new unit has successfully seen, treated and discharged almost 3,400 patients since it came into service three months ago, with patients suffering from minor injuries experiencing a much quicker turnaround and more comfortable environment than if they had attended the main Emergency Department.
To date 98% of minor injury patients have been triaged, assessed, treated and discharged within the agreed standard.
The Minister said: “This is an excellent additional facility and one that the staff within Altnagelvin Hospital can be very proud of as they work exceptionally hard to alleviate pressures in the busy Emergency Department.
“I am encouraged and inspired to see the innovation and commitment of our healthcare staff who make an important contribution to delivering high quality care to patients and clients every day.
“Everyone who has a role in healthcare has a role in helping to bring about and influence change.
“Often the very best innovation comes from the ground up. From the doctors, nurses and other colleagues working on the frontline, I want them to have the opportunity to help drive change as we continue to face unprecedented budgetary and workforce challenges across the HSC System.”
Neil Guckian, Western Trust Chief Executive welcomed the Health Minister on his first visit to the hospital.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome Health Minister Mike Nesbitt to visit a number of facilities at the Altnagelvin Hospital site including the new Minor Injuries Unit, North West Cancer Centre, MedEdWest which is a dedicated medical education and training facility for medical students and doctors and dentists in training along with a visit to the Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) programme at Shantallow Health Centre.
“The Minor Injuries Unit has quickly established itself as a key service at the Altnagelvin site, and has helped relieve some of the immense pressure on our Emergency Department, allowing ED to focus on those with the most life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
“This new Minor Injuries Unit provides timely care in much more suitable surroundings, especially for children and young people including the opening of the new x-ray room.
“The positive feedback we have received from patients and staff since this unit opened only a few months ago is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our healthcare staff to provide the best quality, patient-centred care to our population in the Western Trust area.”
The Health Minister continued with this tour of facilities at Altnagelvin Hospital including the North West Cancer Centre which opened in 2016 and has treated over 6,400 patients from the North West of Ireland have had their radiotherapy treatment locally; with over 1,300 patients from the Republic of Ireland, across a range of tumour sites.
The centre is a true example of cross border partnership working and collaboration for maximum patient benefit.
The Minister met with trainee doctors at the MedWest education and training facility which provides postgraduate training and learning opportunities for 260+ trainees every year across several training programmes from foundation training, general practice and specialty training schools.
Medical students from Queen’s University Belfast, Graduate Entry Medical School at Ulster University and RCSI Ireland are hosted through the academic year and clinical placements facilitated across the relevant specialties.
The Health Minister then moved off the hospital site to visit the Family Nurse Partnership programme (FNP) at Shantallow Health Centre, Derry.
This successful programme was first introduced in the Western Trust area in October 2010 and is an evidence-based change programme, informed by over 40 years of extensive research.
It is delivered by specially trained family nurses using a structured programme of home visits starting in early pregnancy and continuing until the child is two years old.
This programme is funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA) and is an intensive, preventative programme offered to young first-time parents aged 20 or under in Northern Ireland.
It was developed by Dr David Olds, a child psychiatrist in Colorado who recognised that effective early intervention can bring significant benefits throughout childhood and into adult life in terms of child health and development, educational attainment and economic status.
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