Monthly Archives: January 2014

The latest crisis to hit accident and emergency units in Northern Ireland has led to calls for fresh thinking on service provision. On Wednesday, the Royal Victoria Hospital’s AE unit had to implement its major incident plan when an unusually high number of patients required admission. There have also been reports that Craigavon Area Hospital (CAH) experienced a similar spike in demand in recent days, with one MLA claiming there was a perception of a “serious risk” to patients. Over 40 people were waiting on trolleys at the RVH by early Wednesday evening with the situation only returning to normal shortly before midnight. During a visit to the hospital yesterday, Health Minister Edwin Poots was booed by protesting staff as the Unison union held a protest outside. The minister has described Wednesday’s upsurge as a “one-off” event. The AE at the City Hospital closed in November 2011, and the opening … Continue reading →

/A ‘major incident’ was declared at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital on Wednesday night By John Mulgrew – 09 January 2014 A major incident was declared at Belfast‘s Royal Victoria Hospital hospital on Wednesday night due to a backlog of patients. Additional staff had to be drafted in while extra beds were also opened in order to ease pressure. It’s understood around 40 people had been left waiting on trolleys at one stage on Wednesday. It’s believed the difficulties were finally brought under control at around midnight. A spokeswoman for the Belfast Health Trust said the emergency department at the Royal “experienced extreme pressures and as a result we declared it a major incident”. “Belfast Trust’s emergency department at RVH experienced extreme pressures yesterday and as a result we declared it a major incident,” she said. “This is a mechanism we use to call in extra staff at short notice to … Continue reading →

NIE has issued a strong safety warning following a spate of damage to electricity equipment in the Cookstown and Magherafelt areas. There have been ten separate incidents since September 2012 where overhead electricity lines or poles have been brought down risking the serious injury of the perpetrators, passers-by or livestock and leaving homes and businesses without power for a short time. NIE told the MAIL that their main concerns with the rising number of these kinds of incidents is the potential danger that people are putting themselves and others in. Sam Gibson, NIE Asset Management, said, “Anyone interfering with electricity equipment is putting their lives at risk. “They are also showing a complete disregard for the local community by leaving equipment in a dangerous state and in many cases leaving local homes without power. “We are working closely with the PSNI to stamp out this type of practice and would … Continue reading →