Ulster Unionist Party Health Spokesperson, Jo-Anne Dobson MLA, has said the publication of the latest annual A&E waiting times reveals the situation in the Northern Ireland Health Service is continuing to deteriorate.
During 2015/16, only 71.7% of emergency patients were treated and discharged, or admitted within 4 hours of their arrival, despite the target being 95%. It represents a further year on year decline, down from 73.8% in 2014/15.
The Upper Bann MLA said:
“The timing of today’s publication, coming only hours after the EU Referendum result and the Prime Minister announcing his imminent departure, was convenient for an Executive desperate to persuade people that we are not in the midst of an unprecedented crisis in our local health service.
“It is often said that how our A&Es are performing is a barometer for the wider state of the health service. Last year’s performance, which was a yet further deterioration on the year before, demonstrates that despite several short-term in year budget increases the crisis facing our hospitals is continuing to deepen.
“The current delays in receiving treatment, which would have been unimaginable and frightening only a few years ago, are directly contributing to conditions worsening and I am repeatedly told by medical practioners that hospitals are not always a safe place for patients if they do not absolutely need to be there.
“In addition the revelation that last year only 53.5% of category A ambulance calls – where there is an immediate threat to life - were responded to within 8 minutes demonstrates the unacceptable risks that patients are now being exposed to. When people are in a medical emergency time is absolutely critical and each unnecessary delay can increase the risk of patients coming to harm.
“Not responding to the current crisis is simply not an option so I would urge the new Health Minister to listen to local clinicians and take the steps they are suggesting, such as overhauling the referral process, to try once and for all to get to grips with the current situation.”