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Ambulance waiting times for stroke patients in the Southern Trust area have been described as "outrageous and dangerous" by Nicola Grant, Workers Party representative for Newry and Armagh, who says the crisis was entirely predictable and is putting lives at risk.
At a recent Southern Trust board meeting it was revealed that stroke patients have had to wait on average 2hrs 29 minutes for an ambulance.
Councillor Grant said stroke victims need access to treatment within the "golden hour" that medical professionals refer to, as treatment within this critical period can make life-changing differences to clinical outcomes. She warned these delays are causing real damage to patients whilst also creating stress for ambulance crews and emergency department staff.
However, Grant insisted none of this is the fault of any staff members, but rather the consequences of past decisions taken by senior health service managers and ministers over the past decade and a half. Bed closures, staff shortages, moving services, hospitals reorganising and major changes to ambulance cover have all played a role in this crisis, which Cllr Grant said "did not happen by accident, but by design".
The Workers Party representative highlighted concerns raised by the Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service about how long waits in the back of an ambulance impact patients in terms of medical treatment and dignity, and can lead to longer hospital stays for elderly patients. She noted the ambulance service has also warned that long waits can be dangerous for cardiac patients and that they do not want these lengthy waits to become the norm.
Grant added that the planned restructuring of the health and social care services will only make these problems more acute. She called for more beds to be opened in hospitals as a matter of urgency, an end to centralised emergency departments, and more ambulance crews.
Cllr Grant said ambulances should not be queued up outside hospitals delivering "carpark care" to vulnerable patients, and that vulnerable sick and elderly patients should not have to receive medical treatment in corridors. She insisted nurses should not have to carry the burden of delivering treatment to patients on chairs or trolleys in overflowing emergency departments.
The representative warned that patients are being put at risk in these situations and called for the needs of patients and staff to be placed at the centre of all health service policies. This means listening and action by those managing the health and social care services and investment in the right services, she said. Cllr Grant pointed out that over £300 million to the private sector over the past five years is not the answer to the crisis but is actually a major part of the problem.
