Plea to avoid Craigavon Hospital Emergency Department unless urgent due to ‘rapidly escalating pressures’

A spokesperson for the Trust said: “There are now rapidly escalating pressures across health trusts in Northern Ireland.

“In The Southern Trust, our hospitals and facilities are currently experiencing extreme pressures as a direct consequence of the rise in Covid-19 in our community.

“We urgently appeal to the public to help by only attending the Emergency Department if they require emergency care and treatment.”

DUP MLA said around 500 staff across the Southern Health Trust are off on COVID-19 related leave.

According to the MLA there are 55 positive cases of COVID-19 at the hospital which is causing pressures on the system.

He was speaking after a conversation with the Chief Executive of the Trust, Shane Devlin, on the pressures they face.

Mr Buckley said; “As of this morning there are 55 positive cases in Craigavon Area Hospital which is causing huge pressure on the system.

“To put this in perspective at the height of the first surge in Covid 19 there was 63 positive cases.

“There is also approximately 500 staff, throughout the Southern Trust, on leave for Covid related reasons.

“I would ask people to please only use Emergency Department if absolutely necessary, urgent and unavoidable.

“We must work with our hospital in managing the pressures they are facing.”

https://www.portadowntimes.co.uk/health/coronavirus/coronavirus-could-cause-infertility-men-according-new-study-2997011

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