New ED consultants will strengthen under pressure workforce, says minister
The health minister has said the recruitment of up to 26 emergency medicine consultants will help stabilise and strengthen the healthcare workforce in Northern Ireland.
The Department of Health said some of the consultants are already in post, with the others set to begin in their roles across all five health trusts by the end of the year.
It said funding for the new posts comes from reducing spending on locum doctors in emergency departments and that it comes as part of work to find roles for newly-qualified consultants in the health system.
Mike Nesbitt said everyone was "acutely aware of the very significant pressures" on emergency departments.
"Both staff and patients want us to do all we can to alleviate those pressures and that's been a central focus for my department and trusts in recent months."
He added that, at a meeting with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) last year, he recognised that it was "incongruous" for Health and Social Care (HSC) to train emergency medicine doctors but then have no vacancies for them, while also "spending around £30m a year on locum cover for emergency departments".
Prof Lourda Geoghegan, deputy chief medical officer, said she was "very encouraged" by early reports on the impact of the new consultants, who had not only helped reduce locum spending but also increased the "presence of senior decision-making in emergency departments".
Dr Russell McLaughlin, vice chair of RCEM Northern Ireland, said its research showed there was a critical shortage of emergency medicine consultants, with only half the recommended number in place.
"The need for expansion is clear," he added.
"It's vital our departments have these senior decision makers, who are qualified and ready to step into these roles, which are critical for patient safety."
Northern Ireland's emergency departments have been under severe pressure for years.
On New Year's Eve figures showed that more than half of the 892 people who attended emergency departments (EDs) had to endure a wait of more than 12 hours.
Figures released by the Department of Health (DoH) revealed that there was a 7.6% increase in hospital attendances over a 12-month period, with 63,347 attendees in December 2024 compared to 58,875 in December 2023.
Dr McLaughlin said the situation in EDs was "deteriorating" as the health service "pushed through" another "hugely challenging winter".
The figures showed that the number of ED attendees waiting more than 12 hours in December 2024 was 12,281, an increase from 10,597 in December 2023.
The number of patients discharged or admitted within the target of four hours was highest in October 2024 (45.6%) and lowest in December 2024 (40.6%).
Compared to December 2023, fewer people (-1.4%) spent under four hours in emergency departments, which had a figure of 42%.
ED situation 'deteriorating', NI doctors warn
Emergency departments have no space, says doctor
'We're at breaking point' - says ED doctor
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