Councillors confront Trust as A&E hours are cut

Top of the agenda at the specially convened meeting was the perceived lack of consultation about the changes taking place at the hospital, the shortage and inability to attract junior doctors to the Lagan Valley, the capacity of other local hospitals to cope with additional Lisburn patients and the increased pressures on the local Ambulance Service to accommodate the night-time closure.

Following a presentation by the Trust, Council members put detailed questions to the hospital chiefs and also raised their deep concerns regarding the events that led to this week’s sudden closure of the A&E after 8pm in the evening.

Chairing the meeting, the Mayor, Councillor Brian Heading, said that while the Council acknowledged the difficulties experienced by the Trust and the comprehensive report they had brought, serious issues remained, not just for Lisburn.

He said it was clear the issue of junior doctors working in emergency medicine needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency at a national level.

“It is vital that services are restored to the A&E Department as quickly as possible,” said Mr Heading.

“There is still a very real concern about how other A&E Departments will cope with the influx of patients from the Lisburn area and the Trust is unable to give us reassurances on this.

“This situation is extremely worrying for patients, for staff, both medical and non-medical, and the wider community, and we will continue to pressure the Trust and the Department for this situation to be rectified.”

Mr Heading also said that he would be seeking a meeting with the Medicine and Dentistry Training Agency to discuss the issue of training junior doctors.

Chairman of the Council’s Corporate Services Committee, Councillor Stephen Martin, said that while he still believed that communication had fallen short prior to the announcement, it was vital that engagement now took place on a regular basis to try and resolve the crisis.

“It is important to get an effective, sustainable model for the people of Lisburn,” said Mr Martin.

“Both the Trust and the Council agree that this current situation is not acceptable to anybody.

“These problems are not isolated in Lisburn and the repercussions of recent events will be felt right across the Greater Belfast area and beyond.

“This crisis is profound across the National Health Service and requires drastic and co-ordinated effort across all Agencies, at the highest level, to try and resolve.”

Mr Martin encouraged local people to have their say on the issue.

“People power is important so write letters, sign petitions, get involved.

“We need all hands on deck,” added Mr Martin.

Following the discussions with the Trust, the Council has agreed to request an urgent meeting with the Health Minister and to write to the Trust to request a monthly update on the recruitment process regarding junior doctors at the hospital.