Poots in support of foreign doctors

Poots in support of foreign doctors

2 July 2014

HEALTH Minister Edwin Poots believes the recruitment of foreign doctors could pave the way for the restoration of early evening and weekend A&E services at the Downe Hospital.

During a visit to Downpatrick last week, Mr. Poots confirmed to the Down Recorder that he has written to the Home Office about immigration issues which are currently preventing some foreign doctors working in Northern Ireland.

Emergency services were axed at the Downe start of the year by the South Eastern Trust, with administrators blaming their decision on a shortage of middle grade staff.

Six months on, the Trust has been unable to recruit the staff to work at the Downe and the Lagan Valley Hospital in Lisburn where early evening and weekend A&E services have also been axed.

The NHS is to recruit trainee doctors from India in a bid to address A&E shortages in hospitals across the UK after a decision was taken to waive normal competency tests traditionally associated with the recruitment of foreign doctors.

Mr. Poots, who was in Downpatrick to celebrate the first birthday of the Ardcora Supported Living Service at the Ardglass Road, said the South Eastern Trust is continuing to work to recruit the staff it needs to work at the Downe.

He also referred to steps taken since the early evening and weekend closure of A&E services in Downpatrick to continue providing services for local people.

“The presence of emergency nurse practitioners at the Downe’s minor injury unit is enabling many more people to use the facility,” the minister continued. “Patients can also be admitted directly so the numbers that are having to leave Downpatrick to go to other hospitals over the past six months have diminished.

“Nonetheless, I recognise the desire from the community that they want to have a fully operative emergency department. The South Eastern Trust will continue to look to see if it can get doctors from elsewhere.”

Confirming he has written to the Home Office, Mr. Poots said he hopes the immigration barrier preventing foreign doctors coming to Northern Ireland can be overcome.

Mr. Poots added: “I have written to the Home Office regarding some of the immigration issues with regard to bringing doctors into Northern Ireland which is a barrier at the moment.

“I don’t know what the resolution of this will be, but I think it’s important to take every step necessary to provide the greatest level of service as possible for the people of Downpatrick.”

News Mr. Poots has written to the Home Office has been welcomed by South Down MP Margaret Ritchie who this year urged the health minister and Dr. Clifford Mann, the chair of the London-based College of Emergency Medicine, to ensure more A&E doctors are recruited from abroad to work at the Downe.

She added: “Mr. Poots has acknowledged there is a shortage of A&E doctors in Northern Ireland which is putting a burden on many of our emergency units. He must do all he can to ensure the Downe’s A&E service is fully restored.”