McClure backs plan to cut hospital waiting times

The DUP representative welcomed Health Minister Edwin Poots’ drive to see 95 per cent of patients in A&E departments admitted or discharged within four hours.

“Waiting times in Casualty Units are a topic that gets us all talking,” says Alderman McClure who revealed that he was recently in attendance at the Causeway Hospital A&E as a patient.

“I have to say that I was very well looked after and did not have too long to wait before being seen and admitted,” he says.

“I spent several days in hospital and the stay only reinforced my view that staff are extremely busy and endeavour to provide a high level of care.”

He added: “In my view, patients who spend more than four hours in the Accident and Emergency Department at Causeway Hospital are the victims of an overstretched, under-resourced Health Service who shouldn’t blame staff on the ground who are working as hard as they can to deliver high level standards of service.

“I believe patients have the right to expect to move through the process quicker, releasing beds sooner and I congratulate Mr. Poots on his determination to tackle issues now as well as looking at future plans for the improvement of the Health Service in general.”