Welcome opportunity to see Downe, says minister

Welcome opportunity to see Downe, says minister

16 March 2022

STORMONT Health Minister Robin Swann paid a private visit to the Downe Hospital last week.

Accompanied by local UUP councillors Alan Lewis and Jill Macauley last Tuesday evening, Mr Swann met a number of staff and South Eastern Trust chief executive Roisin Coulter and the organisation’s Director of Hospital Services David Robinson.

The health minister chatted with consultants and staff in the hospital’s day procedure unit where cataract surgery and endoscopies are carried out.

The cataract service offers co-located diagnostics and treatment facilities where patients can receive pre-assessment, treatment and their post-operative review on-site. 

Last month, around 300 pre-assessments and one-stop pre-surgery checks were carried out at the hospital. Operating seven days per week, over 400 cataract operations were undertaken and over 280 post-operative reviews were also delivered.

Mr Swann described his visit as a “very welcome opportunity” to see the excellent facilities at the Downe Hospital and to meet the dedicated teams who have shown such tremendous commitment to patient care right through the pandemic.

“Staff have had to adapt at pace to new ways of working and I want to commend them for their hard work and innovative approaches to maintaining and rebuilding services,” he said.

While at the Struell Road hospital, Mr Swann also visited the urgent care centre which in October 2020 at the height of the coronavirus pandemic became the first  “phone first” consultant-led service in the South Eastern Trust area. 

Dr Catherine Bell explained to the Minister that on average, 1500 people use the service every month, ensuring they receive the right care, in the right place, first time.

Health trust officials say that prior to the introduction of the “pone first” service, around 20 patients per week had to be transferred to the Ulster Hospital. That figure has now reduced to two.

Mr Swann was also informed that in January this year, 90% of patients were seen in the urgent care centre within two hours of arriving,  99% of patients seen within four hours.

The health minister also heard details about the hospital’s busy minor injuries unit which operates every weekend. Before leaving, Mr Swann took the opportunity to visit and chat to patients in Ward 1.

The health trust chief executive said she was delighted that Mr Swann took time out of his “hectic schedule” to meet staff and patients.

Mrs Coulter added: “The hospital plays a pivotal role in the Trust’s hospital network and provides vital services for the community. It was great that the Minister was able to see that for himself.”