Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan has voiced his concern at a letter signed by all seven consultants in the Antrim Area Hospital’s A&E department to the hospital’s medical director, in which they stated the department was “ineffective and unsafe”.
The South Antrim MLA said:
“Bearing in mind who is making these claims, they must be taken extremely seriously indeed. It is unprecedented that all seven consultants in an A&E department should come out and say publicly that their department is “ineffective and unsafe.”
There have been concerns at the ability of the Antrim Area A&E department to cope with its workload for some time now, but the general public’s existing concerns will have been heightened by this development.
It is absolutely essential that the Health Minister gets a firm, grip on the situation at the Antrim Area and ensures that the staff receive all the support and resources they require to ensure patient safety and the highest possible level of care. Clearly he is failing on both counts.”