Swamped hospital forced to shut A&E
Updated on 14 January 2009
A hospital in Northern Ireland had to be closed to emergency admissions after being swamped with an unexpected influx of patients.
The A&E department at the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald on the outskirts of Belfast diverted ambulances to nearby hospitals until the situation eases.
The temporary measure was introduced after the department experienced an unprecedented number of admissions over the past number of days.
Patients were being advised to go to other hospitals in the Belfast area until they hear otherwise.
They were also told to expect longer than usual waiting times, as all hospitals were coping with abnormal numbers of admissions.
John Compton, chief executive of the South Eastern Trust, which manages the Ulster Hospital, said: "At this time of unprecedented pressure, I would like to thank our colleagues in the Belfast Trust for their assistance and to reassure the general public that we are doing all we can to ease the pressures at our emergency department.
"I would also like to thank all our dedicated staff who are working flat out in very difficult circumstances."
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