Medics warn of ‘devastating consequences’ as ambulance staff ordered to ‘offload’ patients at NI EDs after two hours
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Ambulance staff in Northern Ireland are being ordered to 'offload' patients at emergency departments within two hours, sparking concerns of 'devastating consequences' for patients. The new directive aims to reduce delays and improve ambulance service capacity.
A new directive from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland requires ambulance staff to hand over patients to emergency departments within two hours. The policy aims to reduce delays and improve ambulance service capacity. However, medical staff and unions have expressed concerns that the two-hour target is unrealistic and may have 'devastating consequences' for patients. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine and the Royal College of Nursing have raised concerns about the potential impact on patient care. The new protocol comes after a report found a 'dramatic deterioration' in handover times, potentially causing harm to tens of thousands of patients. Ambulance crews waiting two hours will be automatically released and hand over the patient to the local trust.
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