RCN Director calls for "highest level" intervention to address hospital pressures
It follows a visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast
The director of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland has made fresh calls for urgent intervention in our health service.
It follows a visit to the Royal Victoria Hospital’s emergency department yesterday.
Taking to Twitter afterwards, Rita Devlin said, “Just out of RVH emergency department following calls from Nursing staff. What we are doing to our nurses and doctors and patients is nothing short of scandalous. Newly registered nurses burnt out after short periods of time , nurses in tears at not being able to care.”
“Patients waiting days in corridors. This is not new. We have been raising concerns for years now … but this is July, the middle of summer. How can we let this keep happening. Where are our politicians who were elected to govern this country. We cannot ask our staff to keep going.”
“It is unrelenting pressure that must be addressed at the highest level. We are losing great staff as they simply cannot keep going. We all need a well trained and well supported healthcare team. We are all potential service users . No VIP lanes in an emergency department.”
In a statement the Belfast Trust said, “Belfast Trust’s Emergency Departments continue to experience extraordinary pressures and our staff work every day under the most challenging conditions while doing their very best for their patients.”
“We accept that in spite of this, many patients are waiting far too long, and we are very sorry this is their experience in ED. Staff at every level within the Trust work with total focus daily to ensure that patients get the highest possible level of care.”
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