Mid Ulster hospital step down facility being stepped up amid COVID rise

The Trust is currently in negotiations with GPs who support the Mid Ulster Hospital in Magherafelt about replicating the step down facility that was in place at the hospital during the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the first phase of discharging, existing patients who do not meet the criteria for being in an acute hospital setting but still require some form of treatment/assessment, can be moved to a step down facility for further review.

The use of these facilities will, it is hoped, avoid delays in discharge from acute care settings.

It is understood that whilst a patient may be over the worst of the illness, they may still feel mentally and physically exhausted.

A step down facility will allow patients who require it, to recuperate while still being cared for by a range of healthcare workers in non-acute settings.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a spokesperson for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust said: “The Mid Ulster Hospital provided a valuable service during the first surge in caring for COVID-19 recovering patients once they no longer required Hospital Consultant led care.

“We are currently negotiating with our GP partners who support the Mid Ulster ward to replicate this service now that COVID-19 numbers are increasing.”

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