'Patients sleeping in corridors'

Acute services have now been closed at South Tyrone

The MP for Tyrone has said patients at Craigavon Area Hospital have been sleeping in corridors following the transfer of services from another hospital.

Ulster Unionist MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Ken Maginnis criticised the "careless and arrogant attitude" of professional hospital administrators.

He said patients from the South Tyrone Hospital, which saw the removal of its acute services to Craigavon Area Hospital this week, were sleeping in corridors when he was treated at the hospital.

Mr Maginnis said he believed former South Tyrone Hospital patients were being "treated as little more than statistics" when they attended Craigavon Area Hospital in County Armagh.

Patients needing acute care were transferred to Craigavon, after the South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon was finally closed as an acute hospital, after a lengthy period during which its services were gradually removed.

Ken Maginnis: "Efficiency has been eroded over 25 years"

Mr Maginnis said he blamed hospital administrators for the situation and called for the abolition of the Southern Health Board, which makes medical recommendations for the area.

During a recent weekend stay in Craigavon hospital Mr Maginnis said at least six people were sleeping in corridors.

He said waiting lists were too long, medical staff were overburdened and there were not enough surgical wards.

However he said he believed Craigavon was not the only hospital with inadequate facilities.

"It is not just Craigavon. Our whole health service is breaking down.

"What annoys me about the situation is that we had a very good health service here 25 years ago and those in charge of administration during direct rule have allowed that efficiency to be eroded."

A spokeswoman from Craigavon Area Hospital said that all patients attending the hospital were treated on the basis of their clinical need.

The South Tyrone Hospital now only provide services such as day surgery, diagnostic tests and outpatient clinics.

The downgrade of the hospital has been carried out over nearly two years, despite a campaign by local people, as part of a Department of Health plan to centralise acute services to nine hospitals.

It was one of a number of local hospitals around the province which are being downgraded.