Health Minister Mike Nesbitt spent time discussing the Northern Trust’s Strategic Vision for Causeway Hospital during his visit. He is pictured with Assistant Director Lynne McCartney, Consultant Surgeon/Clinical Director James Patterson and Staff Nurse M Maguire.
The Health Minister Mike Nesbitt met with staff from the Northern Trust’s surgical teams during a visit to Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital this week.
Mr Nesbitt was visiting Causeway Hospital where he launched a new regional health and wellbeing framework for HSC staff.
Staff from Causeway’s surgical team spoke with the Minister about the Trust’s review of general surgery, which is currently out to public consultation.
He later visited the surgical unit at Antrim Area Hospital, where he met with members of the team there also.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt chats to Staff Nurse M Maguire during his visit to Causeway Hospital.
Northern Trust Chief Executive Jennifer Welsh said:
“We felt it was important for the Minister to see and hear first-hand from our staff about the proposals to transform our general surgery service within the Northern Trust. The Minister visited the hospitals’ Emergency Departments where staff welcomed the opportunity to discuss the current pressures facing unscheduled and emergency care, and challenges within the health and social care system as a whole.
“It was also an opportunity to demonstrate the progress we have made in enhancing same-day care at Causeway Hospital where we recently opened our acute ambulatory and surgical ambulatory units. Both of these units are transforming how we deliver patient care and, importantly, they are helping to reduce the need for admissions to hospital and helping patients avoid lengthy waits in our busy Emergency Departments.”
The Minister spent time discussing the Trust’s Strategic Vision for Causeway Hospital. Published in March, the Vision outlines the Trust’s ambition to develop and enhance the Causeway site, focussing on same day emergency care, elective care and cancer services, and reshaping mental health provision to meet the needs of the local population.
It also highlights how Causeway Hospital is perfectly positioned to become an elective and diagnostic hub for the entire North West area.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:
“I welcomed the opportunity to meet staff at both Causeway and Antrim hospitals. Despite the pressures across services, it was very clear to me that they are committed to delivering the very best care to their patients.
“I was also struck by the innovative solutions that the teams have put in place and their drive to bring about improvements.”
Minister Nesbitt added:
“I was keen to hear from the Trust on its vision for Causeway Hospital and how it has potential to play an enhanced role within our wider acute hospital network.”
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