Foyle MLA highlights urgent need for social care investment in the west

SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has urged the Minister of Health to take urgent action to tackle the severe shortage of care placements in the Western Trust area, which is leaving medically-fit patients stuck in hospital beds for weeks at a time.

An Assembly Question from Mr Durkan has revealed that 83 medically-fit patients in the Western Trust cannot be discharged, the highest number across any Trust area. Patients in this area are also waiting the longest for a care bed, with an average delay of 57 days.

The MLA for Foyle said: “These figures are shocking but sadly will come as no surprise to patients and their families going through this situation. The Western Trust has the highest number of medically fit patients unable to leave hospital, with people waiting on average almost two months for a suitable placement. That’s the worst in the North and it’s utterly unacceptable.

"Bed blocking puts enormous pressure on our hospitals, leaving patients stuck in wards when they should be in care homes or community settings, while others wait hours and days in emergency departments for a bed to become available.

"It’s a vicious cycle that undermines patient care at every level. No one should be left languishing in hospital for months after they’re well enough to go home or to a care setting. It’s a failure of the system not of patients, families or frontline staff, who are doing their very best in impossible circumstances.

Cost of school dinners to rise amid funding crisis in the education sector

The Education Authority (EA) has said it had identified a number of measures which “have the potential to realise up to £30 million in savings”

Cost of school dinners to rise amid funding crisis in the education sector

The Education Authority (EA) has said it had identified a number of measures which “have the potential to realise up to £30 million in savings”

"We urgently need investment in social care, proper workforce planning and more step-down facilities to ease this gridlock.

“Families here already know the system is broken, it’s time for the Executive to face up to that reality and act.”