Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A&ES to close in surge fears
NHS staff get free travel on buses & trains
YESTERDAY
HEALTHCARE workers will have access to free public transport during the Covid-19 crisis.
Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon announced the measures yesterday.
From today NHS staff will be able to show their work pass to Translink staff to be permitted to travel for free.
Other healthcare workers in the private sector such as care homes, will have to showing photographic ID and a letter signed by their employer which will be made available from the Department of Health.
The Minister has also approved a further reduction in the level of public transport provision as a response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
From Monday, Translink bus and rail services will operate a further reduced frequency timetable.
Ms Mallon said: “These are individuals who are working day after day, are putting themselves in the frontline to save lives and look after some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
CHANGES have been made to hospital services in the Belfast, the South Eastern and Southern Trust areas in preparation for a rise in Covid-19 cases.
The Emergency Departments at both Downe Hospital and Daisy Hill are to close, while Craigavon is moving some maternity and surgical services to Newry.
Health chiefs said the changes are vital in helping them to consolidate services and fight Covid-19 as effectively as they can.
The Southern Trust’s Interim director of acute hospitals, Mel Mcclements, said: “We have taken the essential decision to run one Emergency Department, which will be at Craigavon Area Hospital.
“This means a temporary closure of Daisy Hill’s Emergency Department, effective from 2pm on Saturday.”
Maternity services are to continue on both sites, but some low risk patients may have their care transferred from Craigavon to Newry, such as some planned surgical work.