Northern Trust puts plans in place for winter pressures

However, traditionally, urgent and emergency cases rise during the winter with hospitals, GPs and community nursing teams all experiencing increased workloads.

The Northern Trust has put plans in place to ensure both Antrim and Causeway Hospitals and community services are prepared for the additional challenges they face during the winter period.

The Trust have introduced some new services and strengthened current services to help respond to patient’s needs.

This includes rapid access to a range of services including community nursing, clinical assessment, diagnostic investigations such as X-ray, laboratory tests, endoscopy and acute outpatients as well as enhanced domiciliary care.

Rapid response teams have been established in the community to provide urgent access, at a GP’s request, to nursing and social support so that patients can be safely treated in their own home. Services provided include urgent blood tests, domiciliary care and carer assessments.

Dr Calum MacLeod, Interim Medical Director for the Northern Trust, said: “The winter period always brings additional challenges for all health and social care staff but it is important that despite this increasing pressure, patients receive the care we would expect for our families and ourselves.

“The Trust is working hard, and in partnership with other healthcare professionals, to ensure that everyone who requires emergency treatment this winter receives it in a timely manner.”

Waiting times in the Emergency Department have improved considerably as the Northern Trust continues its plan to improve performance in critical areas of service delivery. A whole system approach has been taken to improve the flow of patients through the hospital and enable them to return home as soon as they are well enough.

In preparation for winter, weekend working is also being increased on both hospital sites and in the community to ensure patients continue to flow through the hospital to create capacity for those entering the hospital. Should admissions increase significantly the Trust have plans in place to open a further 14 beds.