Public Urged To Use 'Phone First' System Before Attending A&E

The public are being urged to use the 'Phone First' system before attending Accident and Emergency.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart amid reports of "unprecedented pressures" on Craigavon A & E over the weekend, with ambulances being diverted away from the hospital.

Carla Lockhart said: "Over the weekend we witnessed the most extreme pressure on our A & E Department at Craigavon Area Hospital. First and foremost, I want to thank the front-line staff who were working under the most challenging conditions. They are worn out, mentally and physically exhausted, yet continue to deliver the best possible care for those in need.

"We all have a responsibility to do what we can to alleviate these pressures. With an increase in COVID inpatients, the message must be to follow all guidance and regulations to try to reduce transmission of the virus. Social distancing, face masks, and of course vaccination and booster jabs can all help to reduce the COVID cases in our community. We can all help in this regard by doing the right thing.

"We also need people to avail of the 'Phone First' system, and ring ahead before attending A & E. This can help direct patients to the most appropriate care for their health need and ensure those attending A & E are those who need to attend A & E, rather than a GP or other service.

"I would also encourage the Trust to see what they can do to address public frustration with access to some GPs and out of hours services. These services are vital in keeping people away from Accident and Emergency, but for this to be effective we need to see easier access to the family doctor in practices where this is proving difficult, and out of hours.

"Working together the public and the Trust, with the right support from the Department of Health, can overcome these challenges but we need to all do what we can to help. We owe it to the staff to do this and to ease the pressures on our health service as soon as possible. I plan along with DUP colleagues Diane Dodds MLA and Jonny Buckley MLA to meet the Trust in the coming days to discuss how this collaborative approach can be actioned."

Those Responsible For Upsurge In Criminality Must Be Held Accountable

Those responsible for the upsurge in violent criminality linked to loyalist paramilitaries in the East Derry and North Antrim area need to be held accountable, Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has said.

The East Derry MLA said: "I have met with and raised my concerns with the District Commander and senior PSNI locally regarding ongoing loyalist criminality and activities of the North Antrim UDA on a number of occasions.

"There have been many incidents including shootings and security alerts throughout East Derry and North Antrim.

"I had called for adequate resources to be directed at tackling this ongoing criminal activity including the direct involvement of the Paramilitary Crime Taskforce.

"Those responsible need to get off the backs of the community and to be brought to book for their actions and I would urge anyone with information to continue to bring it the police."

Police Appeal For Information On Fatal Collision In County Down

Police in County Down have issued an appeal for information following a fatal collision in Conlig.

A motorcyclists, aged in his 40s, has died after his bike collided with a silver Skoda Octavia estate texi on the Bangor Road at about 1:30am on Sunday 14 November.

The motorcyclists was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later.

Anyone who was in the area at the time of the collision is asked to contact police.