Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Ulster’s hospitals in crisis as 2,000 nursing jobs go unfilled
Union warns staff at breaking point
NORTHERN Ireland is facing a health service crisis with workers pushed to the limit and 2,000 nursing posts left unfilled, it was warned yesterday.
The Royal College of Nursing and the British Medical Association have both raised fears about the future of health and social care in light of the political crisis.
Their concerns come after the Health Department cancelled meetings with staff to discuss the proposed reforms to make the system “fit for the 21st century”.
The revamp announced in October to improve services, cut waiting lists and care for an ageing population, has been thrown into uncertainty by the collapse of Stormont and lack of agreed budget.
RCN Northern Ireland director Janice Smyth said the health service is “full to capacity and staff cannot work any harder”.
She warned there are “upwards of 2,000 nursing vacancies when you take into consideration hospitals, community and independent nursing homes”.
Ms Smyth added: “Nurses are working more and more hours and this pressure is causing stress and making staff unwell.
“Nurses are already broken but what is most frustrating about all of this is we have been warning this would happen for years.”
The union chief insisted it is vital the proposals in the report – Delivering Together – are implemented.
She added: “It is essential we now press on with the reform and modernisation of health and social care and that the new minister continues the momentum that Michelle O’neill began.
“We congratulate Michelle on her appointment as leader of Sinn Fein within Northern Ireland but we will miss the energy, drive and commitment to working in partnership with nurses and other health staff that she demonstrated during her time as health minister.
“Our health and social care service is in crisis and implementing the minister’s vision is the only way forward.
“This work must continue irrespective of the election and its outcome.”
Dr John D Woods, chairman of the BMA’S Northern Ireland Council, said: “The problems in our health service are currently at a critical point.
“In secondary care, we have spiralling waiting lists that are getting longer due to poor workforce planning and rising demand on services.
“The crisis in primary care with GP practices facing closure across the country is well documented.
“We welcomed the publication of the health minister’s vision for health in October and we would urge that the momentum of this process is maintained.”
A review into Northern Ireland’s health service was commissioned in January last year by Stormont ministers seeking advice on how to improve services, cut waiting lists and care for an ageing population.
At the time Professor Rafael Bengoa, chairman of the expert panel behind the investigation, said Northern Ireland faced “a stark choice”.
He added: “It can either resist change and see services deteriorate to the point of collapse over time, or embrace transformation and work to create a modern sustainable service.”
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