Antrim A&E unit is at breaking point, says top doctor

read full report here

Think about the poor poor staff that have to work in Antrim.

I received an email showing how important it is for patients to respect  the staff working in the A&E Department in Antrim Hospital, an email  with a note added...

I am also worried that people might read these comments and put off going to A&E when there really need to.

I agree if people need to go to the A&E no matter how awkward it is to get to,go.This blog/website has not been set up to deter people from using the A&E services when needed.

The email from Teresa Smyth...

I have just read your blog page for the 1st time and it has made me very cross.  As much as I am against the closures of both A&E departments, I think you should think about the poor poor staff that have to work in Antrim.  Webpage's like this will just make patients cross before they even arrive at the department and this agree will then be taken out on the staff.

Plus if people like it or not they have to use Antrim A&E so hearing "scary" story of what happened to other people within the department will increase there worry level and we all know how worrying having to attend hospital can be in the 1st place.

As I worked in Antrim for years I know about all the faults but I think people have to understand that the people there are doing there best under very hard conditions.

Sorry for my little rant but I just had to say it

A worker in the Mid Ulster Hospital takes ill...

I work in the Mid Ulster Hospital ,and suffer from time to time with Ariel fibrillation. When at work yesterday morning I felt very unwell.As there is no A&E in Magherafelt I phoned Dalriada doctor in Moneymore ,they told me they could not help me and I would have to go to Antrim A&E. As I do not drive and my family was not available I had to pay for a taxi down to Antrim. After I was seen by a doctor I was stranded down there and told I would have to find my own way home, I live in Magherafelt.

An Entire Hospital In Confusion

We were told by the Trust the closure of the A&Es would not effect cancer or heart patients not so.My partner was supposed to be admitted to hospital yesterday to have part of his bowel removed due to cancer and to cut a long story short was informed there were no beds and come in the next morning to check other wise it would be cancelled. Then received another phone call to say he should be in?

Tell YOUR Story!

As it says in the blog title this is just a blog to highlight the disastrous consequences of closing the A&E Depts both in The Mid Ulster Hospital and in Whiteabbey Hospital.I want to read your true stories that you'd be willing to share, stories you'd be willing to tell to our health minister Micheal McGimpsey straight to his face.