Latest news with #HealthandSocialCareTrusts
Belfast Telegraph
01-08-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Complaints to NI health trusts grow by 75% over five-year period, report reveals
The number of grievances submitted to Health and Social Care Trusts jumped from 5,005 in 2020/21 to 8,805 in 2024/25. The details are outlined alongside statistics published today by the Department of Health which reveal that all six trusts have experienced a rise in the number of complaints. It also includes information on complaints against Family Practitioner Services in NI for the year ending March 31, 2025, broken down by the programme of care (POC), category, subject and specialty of the issue raised. Over a quarter (2,406) of complaints involved the Belfast Trust, with 2,178 complaints made to the South Eastern Trust and another 1,634 to the Western Trust. A total of 1,180 issues were reported to the Southern Trust, while the Northern Trust received 1,092 complaints. The NI Air Ambulance received 315 complaints, while 745 grievances related to general medicine and another 550 pertained to children and young people services. The highest percentage of complaint issues (14.1%) received in 2024/25 related to the 'accident and emergency' specialty (1,243). Over half (4,718) of all complaints received during 2024/25 fell under the bracket of 'acute POC' issues, accounting for one in seven of all grievances against the Belfast Trust. The number of complaints about acute care has rose from 2,695 in 2020/21 to 4,718 last year. Complaint issues relating to Family Practitioner Services increased from 173 in 2020/21 to 272 in 2024/25. The median age of the patient or client raising complaints was 46 years. The statistics reveal that 59% of complainants were female and 41% were male. Health trusts issued substantive responses to more than two-fifths (2,455) of complaints within 20 working days. On a more positive note, the health trusts received 42,312 compliments in the same 12-month period. Just over 49% of them related to 'quality of treatment and care', with just over 25% pertaining to 'staff attitude and behaviour'. Almost 11% were from people impressed by the 'information and communication' within the health service. Nearly 3% related to the 'environment' and almost 12% fell under the bracket of 'other' subjects. It comes a month after the Belfast Trust appointed Jennifer Welsh as its new chief executive following the sacking of its chairman, Ciaran Mulgrew, by the Health Minister. Mike Nesbitt decided that a change of leadership was needed in order to mark a fresh start for the trust following a series of scandals. Health was marked as a priority in Stormont's Programme for Government due to NI having 'the longest hospital waiting times in the UK, with people struggling to get the treatment they need'. 'In recent years, pressure has increased due to both a rise in demand but also the impact of the pandemic on the Health and Social Care system,' it states. 'These have combined, adding to the backlog of patients awaiting care.'
Belfast Telegraph
06-06-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
World's first gonorrhoea vaccination programme approved for NI roll-out this summer
Individuals who have a sexually transmitted infection and gay and bisexual men who have a recent history of multiple sexual partners or sexually transmitted infections are among those eligible for the jab which will be offered from August. Research shows that the vaccine could offer up to 40% protection against infection and help tackle increasing levels of antibiotic restraint against the bacteria, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Health Minister Mike Nesbitt encouraged anyone eligible for the vaccine to get it in order to protect themselves and others. 'With gonorrhoea cases rising, the launch of this world-first vaccine programme is important and very timely for Northern Ireland's public health,' he said. 'By targeting those most at risk, we have an opportunity to curb the spread and reduce transmission rates from this complex disease, and to prevent thousands of cases over the next few years. 'STIs aren't just an inconvenience, they can seriously impact on your health and that of any sexual partners. If you are offered the vaccine, I strongly encourage you take it, it is an important step to protect yourself and others.' The vaccine will be administered by local Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) through GUM clinics. x It follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in November 2023, which recommended commencing roll out of the vaccine following an upsurge in gonorrhoea diagnoses Chief Medical Officer Professor Sir Michael McBride said: 'The introduction of the vaccination programme will have significant public health benefits for both those who receive the vaccine, and the wider population. 'The programme has the potential to result in less patients presenting with more complex cases and clusters of gonorrhoea. I would encourage all of those eligible to take up the vaccine when offered later in the year.' Gonorrhoea is a bacterial STI caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacterium. Gonorrhoea is transmitted through unprotected sex or genital contact with an infected partner – even if an infected person has no symptoms the infection can still be transmitted. It is now the most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI in NI. Around 8 out of 10 infections occur in men with gay and bisexual men most commonly affected.
