Sinn Féin Chair of the Health Committee Phillip McGuigan has spoken of his concern at the Audit Office report on Ambulance Handovers and will engage with the Department of Health on solutions.

Speaking on this the North Antrim MLA said:

“The report by the Audit Office is deeply concerning and illustrates the risk to patients safety due to delays in Ambulance handovers.

“Ambulances are a critical part of our overall Health infrastructure and getting this right is crucial to Health transformation and the delivery of health services.

“Despite the best efforts of dedicated Ambulance staff the length of time that some patients are either waiting on an ambulance to arrive – or waiting within an ambulance to be transferred to care – is simply unacceptable.

“I would urge the Health Department to take stock of this report and its recommendations and begin to work towards solutions.

“At the heart of this, we need to ensure that the Department’s workforce strategy is fit for purpose and ensure  that we have sufficient ambulance staff there to collect and transfer patients.

“There is also a need to have sufficient hospital staff to treat patients when they arrive at Emergency Departments, and crucially that sufficient social care and support packages at home are available so that patients, when ready, can leave hospital and receive the appropriate care in the community.

“The Health Minister must also look at how Ambulances handovers are being managed so that staff are entitled to adequate breaks during long shifts and that handovers between ambulances are efficient and done in a way that prioritises patient safety.

“I will work with others on the Health Committee in raising these important issues with the Health Minister.”