Two Northern Ireland health trusts have appealed for off-duty staff to come to work on Sunday evening and overnight due to hospital pressures. The Belfast and South Eastern trusts said they were under “extreme pressure” due to a rapid increase in patients with Covid-19.
The South Eastern Trust said it had significant staff shortages due to the need for staff to self-isolate. The trusts made their appeals on Facebook and Twitter on Sunday. The Belfast Trust said the Royal Victoria and Mater hospitals were affected.
In a tweet, the South Eastern Trust made its staff appeal due to pressures in the system. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said some surgical procedures may be cancelled due to the “surge in demand”.
They said the impact of Covid-19 was continuing to put “extreme strain” on the health service, with critical care capacity facing “very significant challenges”. “This is very regrettable and understandably a very anxious time for patients and families.
