Monthly Archives: May 2018

83,000 patients waiting longer than a year for a first appointment is frightening – Beggs

Ulster Unionist Health Spokesperson Roy Beggs MLA has said that the latest waiting times, which once again are the worst on record for the local NHS, are frightening. Roy Beggs said: “With every passing day the crisis in the local health service deepens. Whilst there were severe pressures two years ago, the situation today is wholly unrecognisable compared to even then. “It is scandalous that at the end of March there were over 83,000 patients waiting for over a year for their first appointment with a consultant. The figure has more than doubled in just 18 months and it illustrates the scale of the pace at which the situation is deteriorating. “The reasons for the worsening situation are still the same as they were 2 years ago – a rapidly ageing population, increased demand for services and a fundamental lack of funding. “Whilst some people can talk wishfully of transformation … Continue reading

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‘Answers needed’ following news of patient recall

<!– –> ANSWERS are needed as to why it took so long to recall more than 2,500 neurology patients, an MLA has claimed. Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs said concerns were first raised more than 16 months ago and Dr Michael Watt has not seen patients since last June. He said it “seems inexplicable” that it has taken almost a further year for a review to conclude and patients to be contacted by the Belfast health trust. “There is a very real possibility that some patients may have been misdiagnosed and have still been receiving the wrong treatment over all this time,” he said. “Whilst I really hope it hasn’t happened, I fear that some patients may have come to some harm in the intervening period. Why has it taken so long before patients have been contacted? “Lessons need to be learnt to reduce the likelihood of this happening again and … Continue reading

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Concerns over ambulance cover in East Antrim

Concerns have been raised over how mounting pressures within the health service have impacted on ambulance cover in the east Antrim area. Mid and East Antrim councillor Jim Brown raised the issue during a meeting of the local government authority on May 8. Speaking in support of a motion to mark the upcoming 70th anniversary of the NHS, Cllr Brown said an ambulance crew member had informed him there was “no emergency cover in Larne, Carrickfergus or Newtownabbey” on two evenings during the previous week, April 30 and May 1. He added: “The best tribute we can give as a council is to call for investment in services to ensure that finance is made available. We need to support the providers to stand with the ambulance men, stand with the nurses to ensure that services are being delivered responsibly and economically.” Responding, a spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service … Continue reading

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Rail bridge collisions ‘endangering commuters’ – Beggs

The Department for Infrastructure has been urged to review warning signage on Carrick’s North Road/St Brides Street railway bridge following two vehicle strikes inside a week. On Monday morning a bus hit the structure damaging its roof and leading to traffic delays on the busy commuter route. Parts of the vehicle at the bridge following Monday’s incident. The previous Tuesday a lorry became stuck underneath the bridge, which has a height restriction of 3.3m. In the wake of the latest incidents, East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs called on Transport NI to help end the collisions. The UUP representative said: “Last week a lorry struck the North Road railway bridge blocking the road and disrupting rail users. A few days later a touring bus has struck the bridge. “This is a vital railway bridge, serving the Larne to Belfast railway line and the ongoing repeated collisions are endangering and disrupting commuters. … Continue reading

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Beggs calls for review of warning signage approaching the North Road Railway Bridge

Following repeated vehicle strikes on the North Road railway bridge, Roy Beggs MLA has called for Transport NI to urgently review its low bridge warning signage to end the frequent collisions which has recently resulted in the closure of the Larne railway line and blocked the North Road – one of the busiest roads serving Carrickfergus. East Antrim MLA Roy Beggs said “Last week a lorry struck the North Road railway bridge blocking the road and disrupting rail users. A few days later a touring bus has struck the bridge. This is a vital railway bridge, serving the Larne to Belfast railway line and the ongoing repeated collisions are endangering and disrupting commuters. I have written to Transport NI asking for a significant upgrade in warning signage so that visitors driving high sided vehicles are less likely to get caught out.”

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