Latest news with #BelfastHealthTrust
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Royal Victoria Hospital: Trust will not shy away from cardiac unit problems
The Belfast Health Trust is "not shying away" from trying to improve relations among staff within its regional cardiac surgery unit, its chairman has Mulgrew was speaking for the first time since a leaked review laid bare bullying allegations and reports of surgeons throwing instruments during became chairman of the trust, which has been beset by a series of problems, in Mulgrew told BBC News NI he wanted the trust to be judged on "how it solved the problems, not on where we are". 'Frank and robust' He was speaking after a meeting with Health Minister Mike Nesbitt on Mulgrew described the discussion as "frank and robust" and that the minister was "quite clear about his disappointment" with the situation."The reality is that we have a difficulty," he said,"We're not shying away from that difficulty."We're not trying to hide it, and we will address that."He said Nesbitt was "quite clear that we have to get our house in order"."This is by no means something which is in any way being hidden or pushed underneath the carpet. If it were, then we wouldn't have dealt with things in the way that we did," said Mr to respond to concerns that the behavioural problems could be widespread across the trust, the chairman said he did not believe the difficulties in the cardiac surgery unit were reflective of the trust as a whole."I think in any organisation with 23,000 people, you're going to have difficulties within relationships," he said."The worst thing that you can do is ignore those things or walk past them. We're not prepared to do that." What did the leaked report say? The report said an "apparent power battle" had been unfolding between some senior doctors in the cardiac surgical department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in 70 staff spoke anonymously and the report stated there were "clear tensions" between different groups of report also detailed the throwing of instruments during surgery as well as "verbal abuse".The report added that while there was one consultant "particularly prone" to throwing instruments in theatre, the behaviour was not unique and nursing staff were bearing the "brunt of the bullying".
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Woman in 'severe pain' told to wait months for appointment
A woman with learning disabilities has been told that she will have to wait 16 months for a gynaecology appointment despite being in "severe pain", her father has said. Jessica Madden, who is 31 and non-verbal, was in hospital due to the discovery of a foetal blockage, as well as kidney stones and polyps on her bladder. However, she was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and told she would have to wait 16 months for a follow-up appointment. The Belfast Health Trust have apologised to Jessica and her family "for the long delay while she waits for referral and an outpatient appointment". "We know that this is extremely worrying for them and we are truly sorry that this wait is adding to their distress," a spokesperson for the Trust said. Jessica's father, Pastor Brian Madden, said he does not believe his daughter was well enough to leave hospital. He told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster Programme that he has taken Jessica twice to the emergency department and both times she was sent home with medication. Pastor Madden said that his wife received a phone call on Wednesday to say that Jessica's blood tests had come back clear for cancer and that she would now have to wait about 16 months for an appointment. He said that this was because her case had been downgraded from "red flag" to "urgent". "No one even told us they were looking for cancer, that near knocked my wife off her feet." "She's still suffering from pain, she still has these gallstones, she still has this cyst on her uterus," he said. Jessica has a rare genetic disorder which means she has severe learning difficulties and epilepsy. "Unlike us she can't communicate with you when she's in pain so when she does try to communicate you know it's severe pain," her father said. "We have fought for everything, we have had to be advocates for our own daughter. "Every single time we have to fight." NI hospital consultant waiting lists at all-time high Man 'in limbo' waiting for consultant appointment
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Woman in 'severe pain' told to wait weeks for gynaecology consult
A woman with learning disabilities has been told that she will have to wait sixteen months for a gynaecology appointment despite being in "severe pain", her father has Madden, who is 31 and non-verbal, was hospitalised due to the discovery of a foetal blockage, as well as kidney stones and polyps on her she was discharged from the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and told she would have to wait 16 months for a follow-up Belfast Health Trust have apologised to Jessica and her family "for the long delay while she waits for referral and an outpatient appointment". "We know that this is extremely worrying for them and we are truly sorry that this wait is adding to their distress," a spokesperson for the Trust said. Jessica's father, Pastor Brian Madden, said he doesn't believe his daughter was well enough to leave told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster Programme that he has twice taken Jessica to the emergency department and both times she was sent home with Madden said that his wife received a phone call on Wednesday to say that Jessica's blood tests had come back clear for cancer and that she would now have to wait about 16 months for an said that this was because her case had been downgraded from "red flag" to "urgent"."No one even told us they were looking for cancer, that near knocked my wife off her feet.""She's still suffering from pain, she still has these gallstones, she still has this cyst on her uterus," he has a rare genetic disorder which means she has severe learning difficulties and epilepsy."Unlike us she can't communicate with you when she's in pain so when she does try to communicate you know it's severe pain," her father said."We have fought for everything, we have had to be advocates for our own daughter."Every single time we have to fight."
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pain of abuse inquiry families 'beyond our comprehension'
The pain suffered by patients and their families as what happened at Muckamore Abbey Hospital became apparent is "beyond our comprehension", the final public hearing of an inquiry into abuse at the facility has heard. Sean Doran KC, senior counsel to the inquiry, said it was a "sincere hope" that patients and families were given the answers they "rightly deserve". The inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital, which provides facilities for adults for special needs, began in June 2022. Mr Doran said its aim was to focus on an examination of the issue of abuse, the reasons for its occurrence and the need to ensure it does happen again. The inquiry has sat for 120 days and heard oral evidence from 181 witnesses. It is due to publish its findings later this year. The Muckamore case is thought to be the biggest criminal adult safeguarding case of its kind in the UK. Muckamore is run by the Belfast Health Trust, which last week said patients' families were "undoubtedly failed". There have been also been apologies from the Department of Health and the Chief Medical and Nursing Officers. Nature and extent of Muckamore abuse at heart of inquiry Mr Doran said there had been a "substantial" body of evidence brought before the inquiry panel. That included testimony from families whose loved ones were patients at the hospital, as well as people who worked there. Mr Doran said, in so far as was possible, the inquiry sought to hear from witnesses from "various categories and levels of staff who worked at Muckamore" and with "experience on different wards". In addition to the public inquiry, a separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge. Fifteen individuals are facing prosecution, among them carers and nurses. Mr Doran said the fact that criminal proceedings were being carried out at the same time as the inquiry had posed "challenges". However he said the inquiry had liaised regularly with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service (PPS), and that appropriate measures had been undertaken to protect against the risk of prejudicing criminal proceedings. "The inquiry has operated and will continue to operate with sensitivity to the live nature of criminal proceedings that may conceivably extend to some time beyond the life of the inquiry," he added. Mr Doran further praised the contributions of two inquiry witnesses who have since died - Eileen McLarnon, who was a nurse at the hospital between 1972 and 2016, and Geraldine O'Hagan, who was a social worker for a number of patients' families. Ms O'Hagan gave evidence to the inquiry in 2024 while terminally ill and died less than a month later. "The fortitude that Geraldine displayed in assisting the panel in the face of serious illness will surely live long in the memory of all of us involved in this inquiry," Mr Doran said. He also paid tribute to patients and their families for providing "insights of immeasurable value". "The pain that they have endured on becoming aware of what occurred at the hospital is, quite frankly, beyond our comprehension," he said. "We wish to acknowledge their courage in sharing deeply personal experiences with the inquiry." He said they had provided "insights of immeasurable value to the important work in which the panel is engaged". "They have done so selflessly. Importantly, they have done so for the benefit of the wider public interest that this inquiry was established to serve." Dawn Jones provided evidence about her son Timmy. She said she feels "exhausted" and "a bit upset" but also feels "joyful" that this part of the inquiry is over. She said giving her statement was "a huge thing for me" because she was "speaking up" for her son. Timmy is non-verbal and "can't speak up for himself". Ms Jones said it's "very important for things to change in the learning disability community" and hopes any recommendations that come out of the inquiry will be implemented. In his closing remarks, the chair of the inquiry Tom Kark KC said in giving their evidence, relatives of patients "gave their loved ones a voice they would not otherwise have had". He thanked those who served as witnesses over the course of the inquiry, saying their evidence had been "crucial". Mr Kark added: "We recognise that for many, probably all, the experience of giving evidence was itself very difficult. "Further, for others just listening to the accounts of the patient experience, the evidence which they heard must have been very harrowing for many of them." He also thanked staff from the hospital who came forward to speak about their experience there, including those who were critical of management. "Some were frightened to speak but conquered their fear so that they could come and help us," he said. He said he was grateful for that and that for, some of them, they showed "considerable courage". The chair also said he was aware that some of the core participants in the patient groups did not agree with every decision he made about the manner in which statements were taken, the scope of the evidence or the documentation to be received by the inquiry. "I can only say that I gave careful consideration to every decision I made and used my best judgment to do what I believed to be right, to secure the evidence we needed upon which a proper foundation for our conclusions could be founded." "I have tried to act fairly in relation to every decision I have made," he said. Mr Kark added that the completion of the evidence meant that the panel could now turn to the "serious work" of drafting the report and its recommendations. Muckamore - timeline of hospital abuse allegations Patients' families were 'undoubtedly failed' - DoH Families of Muckamore patients brand inquiry 'a shambles' Nature and extent of Muckamore abuse at heart of inquiry
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry: 'Hope' for patients to get answers
It is a "sincere hope" that patients of Muckamore Abbey Hospital and their families are given the answers they "rightly deserve" following the public inquiry into abuse at the was according to senior counsel to the inquiry Sean Doran KC in his closing statement on the final day of public public inquiry into what happened at the Antrim-based hospital began in June Doran said the inquiry's objective was to focus on an examination of the issue of abuse, the reasons for its occurrence, and the need to ensure that it does not recur in the future. 'Substantial' Since then, there have been 120 sitting days, which have featured oral evidence from 181 Doran said there had been a "substantial" body of evidence brought before the inquiry included testimony from families whose loved ones were patients at the hospital, as well as people who worked Doran said in so far as was possible, the inquiry sought to hear from witnesses from "various categories and levels of staff who worked at Muckamore" and with "experience on different wards".In addition to the public inquiry, a separate major police investigation began in 2017 after allegations of ill-treatment began to emerge. 'Challenges' Mr Doran said the fact that criminal proceedings were being carried out at the same time as the inquiry had posed "challenges".Fifteen individuals are facing prosecution, among them carers and he said the inquiry had liaised regularly with the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service, and that appropriate measures had been undertaken to protect against the risk of prejudice against criminal proceedings."The inquiry has operated and will continue to operate with sensitivity to the live nature of criminal proceedings that may conceivably extend to some time beyond the life of the inquiry," he added. Muckamore is run by the Belfast Health Trust and provides facilities for adults with special week the trust said patients' families were "undoubtedly failed".The inquiry is due to publish its findings later this year.
