Ulster Unionist MLA for South Belfast Michael McGimpsey has spoken of his disappointment at the latest statistics relating to emergency care waiting times in hospitals across Northern Ireland.

Mr McGimpsey’s comments follow the publishing of the provisional emergency care waiting times for January 2015.

Mr McGimpsey said:

 “I am very disappointed that the percentage of patients being treated within the crucial four hour window has continued to fall again last month.  The target is set at 95% of all patients treated and discharged or admitted to a hospital bed for treatment within four hours of arriving at A&E yet in Antrim Area Hospital only 62.8% of patients were seen within this period and 64.2% at the Royal Victoria Hospital.  It is completely unacceptable that people in pain and distress are not being treated in a timely manner.

“These statistics reflect what we have already heard from patients and their families who have found their experience in Accident and Emergency has fallen far short of what we would expect. 

“While the nurses, doctors and healthcare staff are doing tremendous work looking after the sick in an extremely stressful environment, there simply are not enough of them nor are they getting the support and financial investment that they need to do their job properly.”

“I am yet again calling on the Health Department and the Northern Ireland Executive to tackle this situation immediately and properly fund the service.  As a society and a
government we have a moral duty to care for our sick.  These latest figures are a continuation of a very negative trend in waiting times over a number of months and years and show yet again how the Executive is failing in its duty to the people of Northern Ireland.”