New ED consultants will strengthen under pressure workforce, says health minister

The health minister has said the recruitment of up to 26 emergency medicine consultants will help stabilise and strengthen the healthcare workforce in Northern Ireland.

The Department of Health said some of the consultants are already in post, with the others set to begin in their roles across all five health trusts by the end of the year.

It said funding for the new posts comes from reducing spending on locum doctors in emergency departments and that it comes as part of work to find roles for newly-qualified consultants in the health system.

Mike Nesbitt said everyone was “acutely aware of the very significant pressures” on emergency departments.

“Both staff and patients want us to do all we can to alleviate those pressures and that’s been a central focus for my department and trusts in recent months.”

He added that, at a meeting with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) last year, he recognised that it was “incongruous” for Health and Social Care (HSC) to train emergency medicine doctors but then have no vacancies for them, while also “spending around £30m a year on locum cover for emergency departments”.

Prof Lourda Geoghegan, deputy chief medical officer, said she was “very encouraged” by early reports on the impact of the new consultants, who had not only helped reduce locum spending but also increased the “presence of senior decision-making in emergency departments”.

Dr Russell McLaughlin, vice chair of RCEM Northern Ireland, said its research showed there was a critical shortage of emergency medicine consultants, with only half the recommended number in place.

“The need for expansion is clear,” he added.

“It’s vital our departments have these senior decision makers, who are qualified and ready to step into these roles, which are critical for patient safety.”