AQW 2237/11-15


Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim


Tabled Date: 20/09/2011
Answered On Date: 23/09/2011
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the change in patient numbers attending (i) Whiteabbey Hospital; and (ii) Antrim Area Hospital as a result of the closure of the Accident and Emergency Unit at Whiteabbey Hospital.


Answer:
Emergency care services were reconfigured at both Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster emergency care departments on 24th May 2010, from consultant-led treatment services (Type 2 - emergency care departments) to nurse-led minor injury units with designated accommodation for the reception of patients with minor injuries and/or illnesses (Type 3 - emergency care departments). In addition, opening hours at both departments were reduced to 9am to 5pm, 5 days a week.
Information on the total number of new and unplanned review attendances each month at (i) Whiteabbey and (ii) Antrim Area emergency care departments is presented in the table overleaf.
Monthly Attendances at Whiteabbey and Antrim Area Emergency Care Departments (December 2009 – March 2011)
Emergency Care Dept.
Antrim
Change from previous Month
Whiteabbey
Change from previous Month
Northern HSC Trust
Change from previous Month
December 2009
5,495
-
1,402
-
11,421
-
January 2010
5,428
-67
1,450
48
11,354
-67
February 2010
4,869
-559
1,375
-75
10,373
-981
March 2010
5,802
933
1,589
214
12,308
1935
April 2010
5,554
-248
1,651
62
12,374
66
May 2010 1
6,052
498
1,256
-395
12,334
-40
June 2010
6,228
176
743
-513
11,405
-929
July 2010
6,185
-43
591
-152
11,333
-72
August 2010
6,167
-18
676
85
11,448
115
September 2010
6,104
-63
773
97
11,043
-405
October 2010
6,160
56
707
-66
10,960
-83
November 2010
5,596
-564
677
-30
10,048
-912
December 2010
5,541
-55
615
-62
9,708
-340
January 2011
5,873
332
687
72
10,405
697
February 2011
5,273
-600
629
-58
9,653
-752
March 2011
6,169
896
855
226
11,333
1680
1 Emergency Care Services at Whiteabbey were reconfigured on 24 May 2010.