Beds placed by fire exits at Antrim Hospital as ‘last resort’ amid ED pressure

Antrim Area Hospital Emergency Department

Five beds were placed adjacent to fire safety doors at Antrim Hospital as a “last resort” to ease pressure in the emergency department, the Northern Health and Social Care Trust board has been told.

Speaking at a meeting of the Trust board at Antrim Hospital on Thursday (22 January), Gillian Traub, director of operations, said additional bed capacity had to be “created”.

She explained that five in-patient spaces were identified, enabling five additional spaces to be made available in the emergency department (ED).

The operations director stressed that patient safety was “not without consideration” and said that, in terms of responsibility, risk assessments and daily checks were carried out to ensure there were no obstacles to evacuation, if necessary.

Ms Traub said the beds have since been used “on occasion for patients who require admission to support sustained pressure in the last number of weeks”, describing the move as a “last resort”, balanced against pressures on wards and the ED.

However, she stated that it would not become a “model of business”.

Trust board chair Anne O’Reilly described the measure as “part of business continuity ebb and flow” and asked to be kept appraised of its use.

Carol Diffin, an independent Trust board member, commented: “You had no other real choice. There are patients who require admission.”

Ms O’Reilly acknowledged the dilemma faced by the senior leadership team and expressed confidence in their professional judgement.

Interim chief executive Suzanne Pullins reported “high numbers” of attendances at the ED over the New Year period, coupled with an early flu peak. She said:

“Some people face very long waits. I very much regret that. It is difficult for staff, patients and those attending with them.”

She thanked staff and the public for their “understanding and support”.

However, Ms Pullins said that “busy EDs are only part of the health and social care story and symptomatic of various aspects across health and social care”, adding that it was “regrettable that people who are the most frail and elderly are delayed in hospital while ongoing care is sourced in the community”.

Previously, Trust board members were told that the “use of additional beds is set out in the Trust’s Full Capacity Protocol as part of the risk management measures taken when the hospital is operating at full capacity”.