Situation in Northern Ireland hospitals declared a 'code red' as many collapse

By Q Radio News

Hospital patients across Northern Ireland are experiencing the collapse of critical healthcare services.

That's according to SDLP MLA Colin McGrath who's described the current climate in the health service as a "code red".

Mr. McGrath says some patients have even been made to wait 10 hours in an ambulance or 24 hours in a hospital chair.

He says staff are facing unprecedented pressures, and Stormont data shows conditions could worsen by mid-December.

Situation in Northern Ireland hospitals declared a 'code red' as many collapse.https://t.co/4JAkYegoNg

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) November 24, 2021

He added:

“The picture in Emergency Departments across the North is absolutely bleak. Despite the heroic efforts of frontline staff working themselves to the point of exhaustion to keep patients safe and well, what we are experiencing is the collapse of critical healthcare services.

"We have a duty to be honest with people, this is code red for our health service.

“When you have patients sitting in an ambulance outside a hospital for ten hours, that means that they effectively cannot access the health service.

"People sitting in hospital chairs for more than 24 hours cannot access the health service. We have passed the point of warning that emergency departments could become overwhelmed, the testimony from doctors, nurses and other hospital staff is clearly telling us that they are overwhelmed.

The MLA is warning the public not to visit an emergency department unless it is an emergency as this could help reduce the numbers.

“I am urging people to think carefully about how they access health services in the weeks ahead. Do not attend an emergency department unless you are experiencing a medical emergency.

"If you are offered a community bed outside of hospital please take it. If you have not yet received a Covid-19 vaccine or a booster that you’re eligible for, we need you to do it now. Health Service staff are doing all they can for us, it is long beyond time that every one of us stood up for them.

"If we don’t, people will get sicker and others will die unnecessarily. This is a moment for political, civic and personal leadership.”

(SDLP MLA Colin McGrath)