Mr McGimpsey was today visiting Antrim Area Hospital, Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, where he met staff and patients. He was shown what measures were being introduced to reduce waiting times particularly to achieve the new target of a four hour maximum waiting time in A&E.
“People in Northern Ireland deserve the highest standards of care possible. I am committed to ensuring that they receive that type of care and also that they are seen and assessed when visiting our hospitals and medical centres as quickly as possible,” said Mr McGimpsey.
“Staff working throughout the Health and Social Care network have been working tirelessly to meet very challenging targets. Here today in Antrim I am able to see at first hand what has been happening and the tremendous dedication of staff to ensuring that patients are treated quickly and efficiently.”
The Minister was shown around the “Immediate Care” facility which deals with major/ambulance cases and a newly developed electronic patient tracking system as well as a new children’s room, which makes an often traumatic trip to hospital for children more interesting.
The Minister also visited a new state-of-the-art ward and a new purpose-built chemotherapy unit.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Media enquiries to DHSSPS Press Office 90 520074
2. Pictures from the visit will be available to download from the DHSSPS Photogallery at www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/photogallery.
All photographs are 300 dpi for print purposes.
