Tyrone hospitals record shorter waiting times

NEW figures reveal that no emergency care patients had to wait over 12 hours to be treated in two Tyrone Hospitals.

However, the figures released by the Department of Health reveal that over 7,261 people who attended an emergency care department within the Western Trust had to wait over 12 hours in the past year.

Those who attended Omagh Hospital fared better, with no patients waiting over 12 hours for emergency care.

Omagh hospital recorded 18,209 emergency patients in the past year, with 98.4 per-cent (17,550) being treated within four hours, and just 1.6 per-cent (287) having to wait between four to 12 hours.

The report details that no patient had to wait over 12 hours to be treated.

Covering the year from end of March 2019 to March 2020, the report also shows that Omagh Hospital also had the lowest number of attendances within the Western Trust.

The South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon, which is based in the Southern Trust recorded 34,476 patients reporting to the emergency care department, but no patient waited over 12 hours to be seen.

Furthermore, only six patients had to wait between four to 12 hours.

Meanwhile, across the Western Trust, 5.9 percent (7,261) of people were forced to wait 12 hours, and 63.5 per-cent (78,617) of patients were seen within four hours, while 30.7 percent (37,995) were seen between four to 12 hours.

At South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, 38,682 people attended in an emergency situation, and 6.6 per-cent (2,518) had to wait over 12 hours. Around 59.6 per-cent of people (22,700) were seen within four hours, while 33.8 per-cent (12,868) were seen within four to 12 hours.