Use Downe to ease pressure urges Ritchie

Use Downe to ease pressure urges Ritchie

4 April 2012 - by Joanne Fleming

THE Downe Hospital’s accident and emergency department could ease pressure on casualty departments in the greater Belfast area, it has been suggested.

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has raised the issue with Stormont Health Minister Edwin Poots, urging him to improve the service currently provided in Downpatrick.

Twenty-four hour consultant-led emergency cover at the Downe ended a year ago, with night-time cover between 10pm and 8am provided by GPs.

Miss Ritchie said over the past number of months there has been an increase in waiting times at the emergency departments at other hospitals in Belfast.

She said the Department of Health needs to acknowledge that “proper use of the Downe Hospital would solve the problems in Belfast,” arguing a fully staffed accident and emergency department in Downpatrick could treat people from the city.

Miss Ritchie said one of the arguments made by the South Eastern Trust when it axed night-time consultant cover in Downpatrick was that the good road network between Downpatrick and Belfast would enable patients to get to the city within 30 minutes.

“It would take people in Belfast the same time to travel to Downpatrick and I see no reason why the Department of Health can’t make full use of the Downe Hospital and provide a full medical service for both local people and those in the wider Belfast area,” she continued.

“I have challenged Mr. Poots to ensure improvements of the current medical service at the Downe’s emergency department in light of the pressures on Belfast hospitals.”