Hospital will note be able to cope - Paisley

He said: "The fact is the Antrim Area Hospital has been underfunded and understaffed for years. To add to it the burden of catering for even more care needs without increasing the staff and funding levels simply means that the facility will not be able to cope and the needs of the area.

“I am amazed that such major changes to the hospital have been made so swiftly without properly assuring the needs of the community who depend on the services.

“I want immediate assurances that the obvious shortage of staff and the obvious pressures at the A and E are addressed. What is more I want to be assured that currently in training nurses will find employment in the hospital. I will be in contact with both the minister and the chief executive of the trust to address these matters.”