Northern Ireland's health service is "dire and diabolical," as the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, said. She spoke when MLAs officially returned to the assembly after winter recess and now faces demands to do more to alleviate the current issue. The last two weeks have been tough for emergency departments across Northern Ireland.
Last week the head of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said increased mortality was a result of patients being delayed entering emergency departments. The Northern Ireland Assembly is set to debate a motion on the subject later on Monday.
O'Neill told reporters that things were "dire" not just for patients waiting on a bed, but also for healthcare staff. "We've work to do—one minister will not solve that. There needs to be a collective effort," she said. The public wants to hear what we're going to do about it. We know what the challenges are, and the issue of discharges into social care isn't there—that's what I want the executive to talk about."
The announcement last week from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt illuminates the fact that flu vaccines will be issued to a larger target population, 50-64-year-old age groups, in addition to the currently qualifying age group of 65 and over. Social care workers' wages would also be increased in a bid to "stabilize" the health system, Nesbitt adds.
"Past weeks have been America's perfect storm for the emergency departments of Northern Ireland, due to the 'immense pressure' that is ongoing with flu," said a consultant surgeon. According to Prof. Mark Taylor of the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care, the lack of flow through the hospitals would manifest itself in very serious consequences.
Prof. Taylor also mentioned that at 10:00h GMT on Saturday, about 532 patients were medically fit to be discharged from hospitals throughout NI but not able to be due to reasons beyond the health system.