AQW 2237/11-15 Written question to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the change in patient numbers attending (i) Whiteabbey Hospital; and (ii) Antrim Area Hospital as a result of the closure of the Accident and Emergency Unit at Whiteabbey Hospital.
Asked by Stewart Dickson MLA on 20 September 2011
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 20 September 2011
- Answer due by
- 5 October 2011
- Answered
- 23 September 20113 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Health
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Emergency care services were reconfigured at both Whiteabbey and Mid Ulster emergency care departments on 24th May 2010, from consultant-led treatment services (Type 2 - emergency care departments) to nurse-led minor injury units with designated accommodation for the reception of patients with minor injuries and/or illnesses (Type 3 - emergency care departments). In addition, opening hours at both departments were reduced to 9am to 5pm, 5 days a week.
Information on the total number of new and unplanned review attendances each month at (i) Whiteabbey and (ii) Antrim Area emergency care departments is presented in the table overleaf.
Monthly Attendances at Whiteabbey and Antrim Area Emergency Care Departments (December 2009 – March 2011)
| Emergency Care Dept. | Antrim | Change from previous Month | Whiteabbey | Change from previous Month | Northern HSC Trust | Change from previous Month |
| December 2009 | 5,495 | - | 1,402 | - | 11,421 | - |
| January 2010 | 5,428 | -67 | 1,450 | 48 | 11,354 | -67 |
| February 2010 | 4,869 | -559 | 1,375 | -75 | 10,373 | -981 |
| March 2010 | 5,802 | 933 | 1,589 | 214 | 12,308 | 1935 |
| April 2010 | 5,554 | -248 | 1,651 | 62 | 12,374 | 66 |
| May 2010 1 | 6,052 | 498 | 1,256 | -395 | 12,334 | -40 |
| June 2010 | 6,228 | 176 | 743 | -513 | 11,405 | -929 |
| July 2010 | 6,185 | -43 | 591 | -152 | 11,333 | -72 |
| August 2010 | 6,167 | -18 | 676 | 85 | 11,448 | 115 |
| September 2010 | 6,104 | -63 | 773 | 97 | 11,043 | -405 |
| October 2010 | 6,160 | 56 | 707 | -66 | 10,960 | -83 |
| November 2010 | 5,596 | -564 | 677 | -30 | 10,048 | -912 |
| December 2010 | 5,541 | -55 | 615 | -62 | 9,708 | -340 |
| January 2011 | 5,873 | 332 | 687 | 72 | 10,405 | 697 |
| February 2011 | 5,273 | -600 | 629 | -58 | 9,653 | -752 |
| March 2011 | 6,169 | 896 | 855 | 226 | 11,333 | 1680 |
1 Emergency Care Services at Whiteabbey were reconfigured on 24 May 2010.