NI's Nightingale to be stood down
Facility "prioritised for de-escalation''
The Health Minister has revealed the Nightingale facility at Belfast City Hospital is to be scaled back, as part of Covid-19 recovery plans.
Robin Swann said the facility, used to treat the most acute Coronavirus patients has been "prioritised for de-escalation.''
Briefing the Health Committee on Thursday, Mr Swann said plans are in place to try and rebuild services hit hardest during the third surge of the pandemic.
Mr Swann told members the health service is "de-escalating'' ICU to rebuild elective care services.
He said: "I've agreed that the health and social care system should follow some of the key principles as we de-escalate ICU and rebuild elective care services.
"These principles include the need to de-escalate as a region and that the Nightingale facility at Belfast City Hospital is prioritised for de-escalation.
"Belfast City Hospital normally hosts our complex high priority surgery on behalf of the region so I'm keen that we scale up this high priority surgery as quickly as possible.
"This can be achieved by initially creating green pathways on the site and eventually turning Belfast City Hospital itself into a green site which will serve the region," he said.
Mr Swann added: "That will be facilitated by delivering critical care for Covid-19 patients at the Mater Hospital once again.
"Elective care rebuild must reflect a regional prioritisation to ensure that those in most clinical need regardless of place of residence are prioritised."