SDLP MLA and Health Spokesperon Mark H Durkan has said that patients and staff cannot afford to be let down by a failure to bring about transformation of our healthcare system but the current political stagnation is failing them miserably.SDLP Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said: “This latest ward closure and the cancellation of many patients’ appointments at Altnagelvin have come as the combination of a number of factors, some of which are beyond the control of the Trust or Department but others which are recurrent.
“Patient safety is paramount and therefore it is vital that all possible steps are taken to ensure infection control. I would urge people to heed the Trust’s advice in this regard.
“However, issues around workforce numbers are sadly symptomatic of major historic ongoing faults in workforce planning.
“We have an insufficient number of qualified staff and those that we do have are overstretched.
“This problem is only going to become more pronounced in the future unless action is taken now.
“Delays in patient discharges are often due to a lack of suitable home care packages to support discharged patients. This is an area in dire need of urgent and major investment.
“Patients and staff cannot afford to be let down by a failure to bring about transformation of our healthcare system but the current political stagnation is failing them miserably.”
Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney said very effort must be made to quickly reopen the 25 beds closed.
“These temporary closures will cause distress to those patients who were due to have important medical procedures carried out in Altnagelvin but who will now face an additional wait,” he commented.
“While I appreciate the important clinical reasons for the temporary closure in order to protect patients from a vomiting bug, it is vital that these beds are reopened as soon as possible.
“Every effort should be made to ensure that happens.
“Issues regarding staff shortages in Altnagelvin need to be addressed immediately.
“The department needs to develop a comprehensive workforce strategy covering all aspects of the Health and Social Care Service which they were tasked with doing by former Sinn Féin Health Minister Michelle O’Neill in her transformation plan, Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together.
“It is important that staff are supported to continue to deliver the top-class services they are trained to do.”
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