The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) is warning that waiting times have trebled as the country battles the highest COVID infection rate in the UK.
Some patients are waiting up to six hours to be admitted and one hospital has already had to divert ambulances to other emergency departments.
Dr Nigel Ruddell, medical director of the NIAS, said: “We’re bringing these patients in as emergencies and ideally, we want them into hospital to start getting their definitive treatment as quickly as possible.
“If we’re waiting sometimes up to six hours or more outside a hospital emergency department, then clearly that treatment is being delayed.
“In terms of our staff, they are constantly worried about those other patients out in the community who are awaiting on an ambulance response and that response has been significantly delayed.”
Northern Ireland currently has the UK’s highest COVID infection rate.
The UK government’s dashboard shows that cases took off in Northern Ireland in the first week of November, rising from around 420 for every 100,000 people to just under 600 – a rise of more than 40% in a fortnight.
By comparison, the case rate in Wales is currently around 500 per 100,000; in England and Scotland, it is lower still at roughly 400.
But the chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride said there’s no single explanation for the rise, although it could be related to a relaxation in restrictions.
On 31 October – Halloween party night – ministers allowed nightclubs in Northern Ireland to reopen and ended social distancing rules that had limited capacity in pubs and restaurants.
A few weeks later and fresh work from home advice has been issued, with ministers urging people to limit their social contacts and wear face…
Source : skynews
