Daisy Hill hospital’s new £400,000 A&E department is now open to all patients following a three month delay. The department has been operational for the past month for minor injuries only. It had been due to open in July but was delayed while the department awaited the arrival of new patient monitors which are essential for the treatment of seriously ill patients. Training on the equipment was completed on Monday and the new A&E extension opened for the care of seriously ill patients yesterday (Tuesday). Health Minister Edwin Poots confirmed confirmed the opening following an Assembly question from Newry and Armagh MLA Mickey Brady. The acute department treats almost 40,000 patients a year but is anticipated the downgrading of Lagan Valley hospital A&E and the closure of the emergency department at Belfast City hospital will have knock on effect with projected increased attendances at Daisy Hill. Currently the busy department sees 36,000 attendances and 3,000 review patients each year. Over the next 10 years physicians predict attendances will rise too 50,000. As part of renovations the old fracture clinic was demolished and a new building was built to double the size of the size of the A&E department. The spacious new cubicles are in line with new infection control standards. The department has been zoned into a resuscitation area for trauma patients , cubicles for less severe emergency patients and a third zone for those with minor problems. Physicians believe the streaming process will be an efficient way to treat patients and cut down waiting times.
Newry Reporter
2nd November 2011
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