South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Closure of A&E department at the Ulster Hospital

Published: 15 January, 2009

East Belfast Sinn Féin representative Niall Ó Donnghaile has expressed his concern at the closure of the Ulster Hospitals A&E department at Dundonald. Mr Ó Donnghaile also expressed his support for the staff there and the staff of the other main hospitals in Belfast.


Mr Ó Donnghaile said,

"Obviously it's a cause for concern for people when one of our main hospitals in the Belfast area has to shut its A&E department but the reality is that we are dealing with unusually high levels of sickness this winter.


"I want to send solidarity and support to the staff in the Ulster hospital, I have no doubt that this was an immensely difficult decision to make; however I am hopeful that the issue will be resolved as quickly as is possible. Our hospitals in Belfast provide a very high standard of care and I want to reiterate the calls that people should ring the Ulster Hospital before attending.


"This is an issue that the Assembly Health Committee will have to look at in the time ahead; this type of situation must be prepared for in advance so as that hospital wards are not being closed when people might need them most." CRÍOCH