Improvement in emergency care waiting times

Figures released today from the Department of Health have shown a significant improvement in emergency care waiting times in Northern Ireland.

Validated figures for emergency care waiting times for June 2010 showed that 85.6% patients were either treated and discharged or admitted on their arrival in an Emergency Care Department. This compares to 82.8% in both May 2010 and April 2010.

The figures also show a significant drop in the number of patients who waited longer than 12 hours across all Emergency Care Departments - 209 patients waited longer than 12 hours, compared to 661 in May 2010 and 633 in April 2010. A total of 61,017 people attended Emergency Care Departments during June 2010, compared to 63,478 in May 2010 and 62,378 in April 2010, showing a continued high demand for services.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) said: “While these figures are encouraging, limited resources do continue to pose a significant challenge, however Trusts are expected to keep up their hard work in the drive to improve waiting times.

“The Minister has continually stated his commitment to pressing for much needed additional funding to invest in our health service to meet rising demand.

“However this is a tremendous achievement, particularly for the Northern Trust as it reflects the good work done by the Trust in planning for this change to A&E Services and also the fact that key medical and nursing staff are no longer stretched to the limit trying to provide emergency cover across four hospital sites.”

The spokesperson continued, saying that A&E services should only be used for emergency situations: “Cuts, bruises and sprains are generally regarded as minor injuries and are not normally considered to be emergencies. People who have concerns about an ongoing health problem or a minor injury should in the first instance contact their GP, out of hours service or local minor injuries unit.

“Minor injuries services are widely available across Northern Ireland with units at the Tyrone County, Mid Ulster, Whiteabbey, South Tyrone, Armagh, Ards and Bangor hospitals. The medical staff who work in these units are able to deal with the vast majority of conditions seen in A&E departments.”

Notes to editors:

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