Swann: Health service is being retooled to cope with most seriously ill Covid-19 patients

The Health Minister Robin Swann said: “I want to be totally frank with the public about the scale of the challenge heading our way.

"Health services across the globe are coming under severe pressure. Ours is no different.

“We have now started freeing up resources in our health service to provide hospital care for the most seriously ill Covid-19 patients.”

He said health service activity across the North will unfortunately have to be significantly curtailed as resources are diverted to care for coronavirus patients.

Affected services will include non-urgent outpatient appointments, day cases, inpatient and diagnostic work. The process of scaling back provision will be phased in over the days and weeks ahead.

All HSC Trusts will also be focusing sustained attention on ensuring patients who are medically well are promptly discharged from hospital, with appropriate care arrangements, to ensure hospital beds are available for any increase in admissions.

Trusts must also plan ahead for levels of sick leave amongst staff, which will inevitably impact on capacity.

Minister Swann continued: “I obviously want to apologise to everyone who will have appointments and treatments postponed. Unfortunately, this is unavoidable.

“This is undoubtedly the biggest public health challenge for at least a generation.

“It will require a Government-wide and society-wide response, not only caring for those who fall ill but also providing support to anyone impacted by self-isolation and any social distancing measures that are put in place in the weeks ahead.

“I am very grateful for the support that has been evident right around the Executive table.”

In conjunction with the Health and Social Care Board, HSC Trusts are finalising their surge plans for the predicted significant increases in Covid-19 cases.

Due to increased pressures on GPs during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Department of Health and the British Medical Association have agreed measures to release additional capacity in General Practice.

This will mean that GPs will prioritise work to address Covid-19 cases and practices may reduce certain services.