Trust ‘fully accepts’ Antrim Hospital criticism

The reports were commissioned by the Health Minister Edwin Poots following extensive criticism over patient waiting times at the hospital.

The investigations highlighted a ‘catalogue of failings in patient car’e and slammed what they termed the hospital’s ‘bureaucratic culture’.

In their first public reaction to the reports, the trust said it was ‘committed to improving patient care’.

Chairman, Jim Stewart, acknowledged the challenge facing the trust was delivery of a quality service within the resources available.

The reports, which were both leaked on Tuesday afternoon, were compiled by independent authors.

One was written by English GP, Dr Ian Rutter, who spent time observing practices in the emergency department at Antrim Area hospital.

Dr Rutter’s report said that “some aspects of patient care lacks dignity” and that “patients should not have to wait for considerable lengths of time on trolleys” - a criticism made time and again by many attending the unit.

The second report was written by Mary Hinds from the Health and Social Care Board following consultation with staff members at the hospital.

It revealed low staff morale caused by a culture driven by “rules, targets and protocols”.

Ms Hinds said “while targets are extremely important they shouldn’t be achieved at the detriment to patient care”.