Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ULSTER’S A&E IN A CRITICAL CONDITION
Health chief insists radical reform needed Admissions to rise sharply as we get older
A RADICAL overhaul of A&E units is needed as they are “unlikely to keep up” with “intensifying pressures”, it was warned yesterday.
Department of Health permanent secretary Richard Pengelly was speaking after projections show the number of admissions is expected to rise sharply by the middle of the next decade.
He said an ageing population is placing immense strain on resources.
A review is to be launched next year with a view to establishing a “new regional care model” which will have “particular focus on meeting the needs of the rising proportion of older people”.
One part of the plan could see more “urgent treatment centres” which will deal with non-emergency ailments.
Mr Pengelly said: “The pressures faced by our A&ES reflect pressures right across the health and social care system.
“Patients experience unacceptable waits and staff are increasingly stretched. We need to fundamentally change the way we do things.
“That’s why we have announced this review which will be clinically led.”
Over recent years hospitals have come under intensifying pressure due to the effect of the seasonal flu and another difficult period is anticipated this winter.
Chief medical officer Dr Michael Mcbride said the older population will rise to 74,500 by 2026 – that’s the equivalent of twice the size of Ballymena in Co Antrim.
Former public health doctor David Stewart added standardised arrangements for local urgent treatment centres giving access to a range of care could help meet the challenge.
Mr Pengelly said: “The current model for urgent and emergency care in Northern Ireland is unlikely to keep up with the changing needs of our population in the years ahead.”
Starting with figures from last year it is projected the total number of emergency admissions will rise by around 13,000 by 2025-26.
For those aged over 65 the number of new patients is expected to climb by around 26,000.
Mr Stewart said there was a growing demand for urgent care.
By the time people reach 85, more than a quarter of patients discharged from hospital will need support in the community, such as in nursing homes.
Currently the proportion waiting longest for emergency admission were those aged over 75, many waiting more than 12 hours. The number of emergency or urgent patient journeys by ambulance has risen consistently since 2005.
As the population gets older, statistics revealed by Mr
Stewart showed the number of people suffering major traumatic injury through falls over less than two metres increases.
He said the focus should be on creating the most appropriate arrangements for the assessment and admission of older people with medical conditions.
Mr Pengelly added: “Improvements in the integration of primary and secondary care services will be among the priorities, as well as more urgent treatment centres such as the facility recently opened at Omagh Hospital.”