Who is going to care for the elderly if A&E closes?

Who is going to care for the elderly if A&E closes?

26 February 2014

THE residents of Downpatrick’s Quoile Fold say the announcement of reduced opening hours at the Downe A&E has been playing on their minds.

Learning of the decision to close the emergency department at nights and weekends just before Christmas, it has been a regular topic of conversation since then.

Some of its users with chronic conditions are particularly worried. They appreciate the staff at the Downe knowing their background and many can’t get their heads around why anyone would make them travel as far as Belfast for emergency treatment.

Among those speaking out at the Fold’s coffee morning on Monday was Loretta McDonnell. A retired nurse, she recently went into the A&E with a form of pneumonia and says the staff know her well.

From previous personal experiences in the Ulster she does not want to return.

“I just do not like it,” she said. “The Downe emergency department should never have been closed. They should have tried harder, just not taken any chance to close the door.

“They work hard up there I could not praise them enough.”

Mrs. Sheila Heron, sitting beside her friend, chipped in: “I agree with everything you have said. They provide great treatment. You could not have asked for a better hospital. I was with her in her long wait there.

“I think the majority of people are concerned. If anything it is worse for pensioners because we need it. We wish we didn’t need it.”

Mrs. Solveig Moore, originally from Norway, said the Downe helped save her life two years ago. Realising all was not well after she took ill, they sent her for further x-rays at the Ulster Hospital where bowel cancer was detected.

“If it had not been for that doctor in A&E I probably would not be here,” she said.

John Loughlan, who recently had a suspected cancerous lump removed from his head, said: “It is terrible that they have kept cutting back the service.

“It is at night people like to know there is a local A&E. Who is going to want to travel in an ambulance up to A&E in Belfast?”

“If the Downe A&E closes I do not know what we will do,” Margaret Sharvin added.

Roy Moore said he had suffered a brain haemorrhage when in Canada and was saved by a nearby hospital similar to the Downe.

“If it had not been for that hospital and their quick action I would not be here,” he said.

Anne Oakes, Alice Hughes, Joe Mitchell and George McClurg said that the Downe A&E was busy and other hospitals would suffer having to deal with its intake.

“It’s ridiculous if someone has an accident they have to go away to the Ulster Hospital,” said Mr. McClurg. “It could take an hour to get to that hospital.”

Hughie Burke remains puzzled over the whole rationale of the Downe A&E’s partial closure.

“If you take ill you will need an ambulance to get to Belfast,” he said simply.

Ann McClean, the Fold co-ordinator, said that out of their 47 residents, the oldest would be 95 in March.

“There have been incidents where people have fallen ill out of hours and we would have to call for an ambulance,” she said. “At nights and at weekends.

“We have had a lot of the tenants talking about the A&E within days of it closing.

“Some have chronic conditions which mean they are in and out of the hospital and have families close by visiting them, something that is more difficult at the Ulster.”